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Israel to open Gaza aid 'humanitarian corridor'
Israel has decided to set up "a humanitarian corridor" in the Gaza Strip to deliver basic supplies to local residents, said Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office on early Wednesday morning. The Israeli army also said Wednesday that it will hold fire for three hours every day to allow local residents to receive basic supplies.
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Russia-Ukraine gas row escalates
A gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine worsened Tuesday after Russian energy giant Gazprom slashed gas supplies to countries in Europe, which gets about a fifth of its needs via pipelines through Ukraine.
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US 111th Congress convenes
The US House of Representatives and the Senate convened for the 111th Congress on Tuesday with new members elected on November 4 elections and tasks to address the country's economic emergencies, among other issues.
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Israel shells UN schools in 11th day of offensive
Israel pressed on with its airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday by shelling houses and a school run by the United Nations, killing 82 Palestinians, the majority women and children, in the eleventh day of violence.
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Russia slashes gas exports to Europe
Russian energy giant Gazprom has cut gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine to around two-thirds of its normal flow, which will disrupt supplies to Europe, Ukrainian state gas company Naftogaz spokesman Valentin Zemlyanski said on Tuesday.
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HK, Macao, Taiwan ships protected by Chinese navy
Ships from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan can request the escort services of the Chinese mainland's navy fleet in Somalian waters, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a regular press conference in Beijing on Tuesday.
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Guatemalan landslide kills 35, more missing
Rescue workers dug with shovels and their bare hands to recover bodies on Monday after at least 35 coffee workers were killed by a landslide as they walked along a road in northern Guatemala.
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Russia to cut gas export via Ukraine: Putin
Russia will reduce its gas export that was pumped through pipelines stretching over Ukraine to Western Europe countries, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in Moscow on Monday amid gas disputes with the neighbor.
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Chinese shipmen escape from pirates
A Sierra Leone cargo ship with 32 Chinese onboard threw off the pursuit of four pirate boats in the Gulf of Aden on Monday, the China Maritime Search and Rescue Center said on Monday.
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Hu, Bush talk ties, int'l issues on phone
Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday spoke over telephone with his US counterpart George W. Bush about bilateral relations and major international issues of common concern.
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Hamas captures two Israeli soldiers
Hamas said the Islamic movement has captured two Israeli soldiers during fighting in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, Hamas controlled TV reported.
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7.6-magnitude quake hits Papua
Three people, including a child, were killed in the earthquakes hitting eastern Indonesia's West Papua province on Sunday morning, a local website said.
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Bangladesh BNP rejects election results
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia who lost Monday's parliament election said Tuesday midnight that the election results are not acceptable to her party.
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Ill. governor appoints Obama successor
Defying US Senate leaders, scandal-tainted Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday named former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to President-elect Barack Obama's US Senate seat.
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China offers US$1 mln aid to Palestinians
China will offer US$1 million cash in emergency humanitarian aid for the Palestinian National Authority to buy urgently needed material, Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
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Israeli ambassador sees no early ceasefire
Israel's ambassador in Beijing, Amos Nadai, told China.org.cn today that the military operation against Gaza would continue until it had achieved its goal of eliminating Hamas capability to shell Israeli civilian targets.
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Thai gov't policy debate further postponed
A planned government policy address by Thailand's newly-elected Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and a following parliament debate had to be postponed for another day after anti-government demonstrators besieged the Parliament in central Bangkok Monday morning.
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China, Kuwait to expand economic, energy cooperation
Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang and Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah agreed to expand economic and energy cooperation between the two countries during their meeting in Kuwait City on Monday.
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 Chinese naval fleet sails into Strait of Malacca
The Chinese naval fleet sailed into the Strait of Malacca on Monday after its departure from China's southernmost island province of Hainan on an escort mission against piracy off Somalia Friday afternoon.
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Palestinian death toll rises to 364
Palestinians death toll has risen to 364 killed and over 1,600 wounded in the on-going Israeli warplanes intensified airstrikes on Monday evening.
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Vice Premier meets Kuwaiti emir
China vowed in Kuwait on Sunday to further its pragmatic cooperation with Kuwait in the various fields in a bid to step up the bilateral relations to a higher level.
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Thaksin supporters launch protest in Thailand
Thousands of red-shirt demonstrators have launched rallies in central Bangkok to get ready for a besiege over the Parliament on Monday and Tuesday, when Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is scheduled to deliver the government's policy statement.
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 Israel strikes Gaza for 2nd day, killing 307
Israel on Sunday continued intensive air strikes on the besieged Gaza Strip for the second successive day, killing 307 Palestinians so far in a powerful offensive aimed to halt nearly daily cross-border rocket attacks.
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Gunman in Santa suit kills 6 at LA party
A man who killed three people and wounded two others on a Christmas party overnight was found dead on Thursday from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, Los Angeles police said.
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Guinean PM reports to military junta
Guinea's prime minister turned himself in on Thursday along with his team of government to a military junta led by Moussa Camara, who has claimed himself "the president of the Republic" after a coup, according to agencies' report.
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 World Christians pray for peace
Christmas bells resounded over the West Bank city of Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus Christ, as Christians from all over the world gathered Wednesday night to pray for peace on the occasion of the Savior's birthday.
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China to import gas from Myanmar
Natural gas produced from the Shwe Field off Myanmar's Rakhine coast will be exported to China's southwestern region under a new export gas sales and purchase agreement signed between companies from China, Myanmar and South Korea.
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 China ready to send warships to Somalia
The Chinese Navy's three-ship fleet awaiting sail to waters off Somalia has finished its preparations for the overseas deployment, the fleet commander said Thursday.
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Russia's Medvedev wants 'reliable ties' with Obama
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday that he expected to establish a "more effective and more reliable" relations with the new United States administration of Barack Obama than before.
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New Somali prime minister resigns
The new prime minister named by Somali President Abdullah Yusuf Ahmed has resigned from his post, a week after he was appointed to replace Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein, reports reaching Mogadishu said on Wednesday.
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Romania frees Chinese workers
The five Chinese construction workers who were arrested in Romania following a labor dispute were released on Wednesday, a provincial labor official said.
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China requests US anti-dumping measures probe
China on Monday asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to establish an expert panel to investigate U.S. anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Chinese products which may violate WTO trade rules.
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Obama names technology officials
US President-elect Barack Obama has formed his technology team with a pledge to ensure that "facts and evidence are never twisted or obscured by politics or ideology," CNN reported on Sunday.
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Greek demonstrators clash with riot police
An anti-racism rally in central Athens's Syntagma Square on Sunday led to a violent confrontation between the protesters and riot police, the latest of a series of clashes triggered by the death of 15-year-old boy Alexis Grigoropoulos, who was killed by police on Dec. 6.
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US gov't considering 'orderly' auto bankruptcy
The Bush administration is seriously considering "orderly" bankruptcy as a way of dealing with the desperately ailing U.S. auto industry, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said on Thursday.
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 2 more US embassies receive suspected mails
The US said on Thursday two more American embassies received suspicious envelopes with white powder after its 16 missions in Europe received similar white powder mails that were later found to be harmless.
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OPEC makes deepest-ever output cut
OPEC on Wednesday agreed on a deepest-ever net cut of 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) as of Jan. 1, bringing the total output cut in 2008 to 4.2 million bpd, in another attempt to bolster sagging oil prices under the global economic slowdown.
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US Fed cuts key interest rate to record low
The US Federal Reserve decided Tuesday to cut a key interest rate to the lowest level on record to prevent the country's ailing economy from slipping further into deep recession.
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China regrets over WTO auto parts ruling
China on Tuesday expressed regrets over the World Trade Organization's (WTO) decision to uphold its ruling that Chinese auto parts import practices violated WTO rules.
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Wen discusses financial crisis with Zoellick
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Beijing Tuesday in response to the global financial crisis that China will focus on expanding domestic demand as an effective way to stimulate economic growth.
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OPEC ready to slash oil output
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is ready to stage a new round of aggressive oil output cut at its upcoming 151st extraordinary ministerial meeting in the North African country of Algeria, in a bid to buttress the declining oil prices shadowed by global economic downturn.
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Shoe-thrower hailed as Arab hero
Khalil al-Dulaimi, Saddam Hussein's chief lawyer, on Monday offered to defend the Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at US President George W. Bush who came to Iraq on a farewell visit.
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Israel frees 245 Palestinian prisoners
The Israeli army released on Monday 245 Palestinian prisoners from different jails as a goodwill gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, witnesses said.
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Vejjajiva elected as Thailand's new PM
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was elected as Thailand's new prime minister at a special voting session in the House of Representatives on Monday.
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Parliament set to elect new Thai government
A new survey released on Sunday found that as many as over 80 percent Thais wish to see the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) to hold hands and solve the national crises.
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Somali PM: President cannot sack me
Somali Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussien Sunday rejected the decision by President Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed to sack him, heightening a growing political crisis in Somalia.
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 Iraqi reporter throws shoes at Bush
An Iraqi reporter threw his shoes at visiting US President George W. Bush and called him a "dog" in Arabic during a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad on Sunday.
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57 killed in Egypt road accident
The death toll of a road accident in southern Egypt has risen to 57, the state MENA news agency reported on Sunday, citing a senior official.
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 US auto loan package dies in Senate
A 14-billion-dollar loan package aimed at bailing out the American auto industry from bankruptcy officially died on Thursday night, as it was rejected by the US Senate despite the Wednesday approval by the House of Representatives.
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 47 killed in Kirkuk suicide bombing
The death toll from suicide bomb attack at a restaurant in northern city of Kirkuk on Thursday rose to 47 and some 93 others injured, a local police source said.
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Envoy brief on Sarkozy-Dalai meet dismissed
France continued to defend last week's meeting between President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Dalai Lama, saying it did not intend to offend China, but Beijing dismissed the argument because it is not enough to "resolve the crisis".
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 2008 Nobel Prizes awarded
Ten winners of the 2008 Nobel Prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and economics received their prizes on Wednesday at a ceremony in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.
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Strike paralyzes Greece on fourth day of protests
Riot police clashed with demonstrators outside the Greek parliament yesterday as a general strike paralyzed the country, shutting down schools, hospitals and international flights and raising pressure on the government reeling from four days of riots.
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US air raid kills 6 Afghan policemen
Air strike carried out by US-led Coalition troops on Wednesday hit a police station in southern Afghan province of Zabul, killing six policemen and one civilian nearby, said Ghalam Jailani Khan, deputy provincial police chief.
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Six-party talks focus on verification draft
Chief delegates of the six-party talks kept negotiating in Beijing on Wednesday over the draft proposal on how to verify the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) nuclear program after reaching no agreement Tuesday.
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Greek boy's funeral leads to more violence
Rioters rampaged in Greek cities for a fourth day Tuesday in an explosion of rage that was triggered by the weekend police killing of a teenager – but has spread to an array of antiestablishment parties, threatening to topple the government at a time of deep anxiety over growing economic gloom.
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DPRK to get full aid by March
All sides participating in the Six-Party Talks in Beijing Tuesday reached consensus to ship all promised economic aid to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) by the end of March, Republic of Korea envoy Kim Sook said.
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Strong earthquake rocks areas near Kermadec Islands
A strong earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale jolted the areas near Kermadec Islands in the Pacific Ocean at 0637 GMT Tuesday, the Hong Kong Observatory said in a news bulletin here Tuesday afternoon.
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US says 9/11 plotters want to confess
The Pentagon said Monday that five detainees at US Naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, want to confess to conspiracy charges for planning the 9/11 attacks.
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Greece hit by new riots
New clashes broke out on Monday between police and protesters across Greece for a third day, after the death of a 15-year-old boy shot by police on Saturday.
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 Military jet crashes in California neighborhood
A US Marine Corps F-18 fighter-bomber crashed into a residential area in Southern California city of San Diego on Monday, destroying two houses and killing three people on the ground, officials said.
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 New round of six-party talks kicks off
Envoys from the six nations gathered in Beijing on Monday for a fresh round of talks on removing nuclear programs from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
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US urged to cancel arms sale to Taiwan
China's Defense Minister Liang Guanglie Monday urged the United States to immediately cancel its planned weapons sale to Taiwan, and cease all military ties with Taiwan.
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160 US, NATO vehicles burned in Pakistan
Militants torched 160 vehicles, including dozens of Humvees destined for US and allied forces fighting in Afghanistan, in the boldest attack so far on the critical military supply line through Pakistan.
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Indian FM denies Pakistan alert call
Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Sunday denied he had made a call to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and expressed worry that "a neighboring state might even consider acting on the basis of such a call ".
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 Israeli troops evict settlers in the West Bank
Israeli troops forcibly evicted about 200 hard-line Jewish settlers from a contested building in this volatile biblical city on Thursday, the first serious clash in what seems to be a spiraling confrontation between the government and defiant settlers.
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Canadian PM suspends Parliament
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Thursday won approval from the governor general to suspend Parliament until the end of January, in an attempt to avoid being defeated by oppositions in a non-confidence vote scheduled next week.
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Shooting heard at New Delhi airport
Three rounds of firing were heard at New Delhi's international airport early Friday morning, but no one was injured, the Indian NDTV channel reported.
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India terror e-mail targets airports
India airports across the country were on high alert after a terror e-mail and the coast of west state Gujarat was also on tight security Thursday morning, reported local news channel Times Now.
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Cholera outbreak declared national emergency in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe government has declared the recent outbreak of cholera in the country as national emergencies and called on the donor community to provide aid in fighting the disease, the state media Herald reported on Thursday.
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US confident of food safety in China
US Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer told reporters in Beijing on Wednesday that he was "very confident" of the quality of Chinese products, despite food safety scandals involving pet food, toothpaste and dairy products.
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Bomb attacks kill 11 people in N Iraq
Up to 11 people were killed and 45 others wounded in two bomb attacks, including a suicide car bomb, in the Iraqi province of Nineveh on Tuesday, a provincial police source said.
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India gives wanted list to Pakistan
India demanded Pakistan hand over 20 of its most wanted fugitives as a sign of good faith, while both sides Tuesday tried to cool tensions over the Mumbai attacks before a visit by Washington's top diplomat.
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 Thai court dissolves ruling party
Thailand's Constitution Court on Tuesday ruled the three ruling parties in the coalition government – People Power Party (PPP), Chart Thai Party and Matchima Thipataya Party were guilty of electoral fraud charges and ordered them to be dissolved.
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2 killed, 30 injured in India's train blast
At least two were killed and 30 injured when a bomb exploded in the passenger coach of a train in India's northeastern state of Assam at about 7:50 in the morning, officials said on Tuesday.
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Bombs kill more than 30 in Baghdad
A series of bombs struck US and Iraqi security forces in Baghdad and the northern city of Mosul on Monday, killing at least 32 people and wounding dozens more, Iraqi officials said.
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Bush admits 'intelligence failure' on Iraq
With no more than two months left in his term, US President George W. Bush, for the first time, admitted in public that "intelligence failure" on Iraq was his "biggest regret" during the eight-year administration, according to a TV interview to be broadcast on Monday.
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 Obama announces his national security team
US President-elect Barack Obama announced on Monday his national security team, including former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state and incumbent Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who would retain his post.
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EU spy criticism amounts to interference
A Foreign Ministry spokesman has dismissed the European Union's (EU) criticisms over the execution of a man found guilty of spying for Taiwan, and said he was sentenced after a "just and fair" trial.
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India security chief resigns after Mumbai attacks
With corpses still being pulled from a once-besieged hotel, India's top security official resigned Sunday as the government struggled under growing accusations of security failures following terror attacks that killed 174 people.
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EU and Austria's accusation on spy execution rejected
China was strongly opposed to the accusation of the European Union and Austria over its execution of Wo Weihan, a man spying for Taiwan. "Chinese judicial organs made the verdict and this was completely a matter within the Chinese judicial sovereignty," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement.
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France urged to create good conditions for EU summit
China on Thursday demanded France create a good atmosphere for the China-EU summit that was postponed because of a planned meeting between Tibetan secessionist the Dalai Lama, and French President, Nicholas Sarkozy.
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2 British journalists kidnapped in NE Somalia
Two British Journalists were on Wednesday abducted by unidentified gunmen in Bossaso, commercial capital of the semiautonomous region of Puntland in northeast Somalia, police officials said.
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Chinese stranded in Bangkok 'safe'
More than 1,000 Chinese passengers stranded at Bangkok airport after anti-Thai government protesters disrupted flight operations have been shifted to hotels, the Chinese embassy said yesterday.
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FM: EU summit postponed over Dalai visit
China has to postpone the 11th summit with the European Union scheduled in early December because of French leader's planned meeting with the Dalai Lama, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in Beijing on Wednesday night.
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Four bombings rock Bangkok
At least four rounds of bomb attacks rocked Bangkok early Wednesday, injuring at least 12 people, local media reported.
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 Bangkok in anarchy as confrontation upgrades
The "City of Angles" on Tuesday was in chaos as anti-government protesters seized the temporary administration seat -- Don Mueang airport, clashed with pro-government taxi drivers, forcing the Cabinet to indefinitely postpone its weekly meeting.
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Five proposals to boost Sino-Latin American ties
China is willing to make concerted efforts with Latin American countries to establish a comprehensive cooperative partnership of equality, mutual benefit and common development, Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Lima on Thursday.
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APEC ministers meet on financial crisis, Doha talks
Foreign and trade ministers from the 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum met in Lima Wednesday to discuss such issues as the global financial crisis and the Doha round of trade talks.
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China, Peru conclude FTA talks
China and Peru concluded their talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) and upgraded bilateral ties to a strategic partnership in Lima on Wednesday.
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Indian navy destroys pirate ship
An Indian warship destroyed a pirate ship in the Gulf of Aden as gunmen from Somalia seized at least two more vessels despite a large international naval presence off their lawless country.
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Hu, Abbas congratulate 20th anniversary of ties
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas exchanged congratulatory messages Wednesday to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
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Hu arrives in Peru for state visit, APEC meeting
Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Wednesday that his state visit to Peru would give an impetus to the development of the comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and the South American nation.
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President Hu in Havana for state visit
Chinese President Hu Jintao said Monday upon his arrival in Havana that his state visit to Cuba aims to enhance friendship and enlarge cooperation between the two countries.
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US in recession, jobless to peak at 7.5%
The US economy is in recession and will contract at a faster pace in the fourth quarter, extending the decline into early 2009 as high unemployment crimps consumer spending, a survey showed.
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Somali pirates hijack Saudi Arabian-owned oil tanker
Somali pirates have hijacked a Saudi Arabian-owned oil tanker, the largest vessel ever seized, loaded with crude and carrying 25 crew members off the Kenyan coast, a regional maritime official said on Monday.
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 Obama, McCain vow to work together
US president-elect Barack Obama and his former Republican presidential rival, John McCain, vowed on Monday to "launch a new era of reform" and work together on "critical challenges."
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Japan's economy sinks into recession
Japan's economy sank into its first recession in seven years in the July-September quarter as the global financial crisis took a heavy toll on the world's second largest economy and curbed demand for its exports, said Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano on Monday.
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US shuttle Endeavour docks with space station
After a nearly-two-day pursuit, the US space shuttle Endeavour arrived at the International Space Station and docked with it at 5:01 p.m. EDT (2201 GMT) on Sunday, according to NASA TV.
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Strong quake rocks eastern Indonesia
A shallow powerful quake with magnitude of 7.5 struck eastern parts of Indonesia on Monday morning, the country's meteorology agency said in Jakarta.
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G20 leaders hail global financial summit
Leaders who attended the G20 financial summit hailed the historic meeting on Saturday for laying a foundation for a more coordinated global response system to the world economic crisis.
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Zimbabwe opposition MDC-T oks unity gov't
Zimbabwe's opposition MDC-T national council has resolved that the party joins the envisaged inclusive government once the legislature has given legal force to the broad-based agreement signed on September 15, The Herald reported on Saturday.
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China, DPRK meet over six-party nuclear talks
China on Thursday confirmed that its diplomats and diplomats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) met to discuss how to move forward the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue.
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 Wall Street rallies after three-day plunge
Wall Street rallied Thursday as investors hunt bargain after three straight days of decline. The Dow Jones industrial average up nearly 553 points after driving it down near its lows for the year, as investors decided they did not want to miss out on cheap stocks.
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 Fake New York Times announces 'Iraq War ends'
A bogus "edition" of The New York Times hit streets in New York Wednesday, with a look into a fantasy future filled with phony headlines taking aim at the Bush administration, according to a report on www.nydailynews.com.
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DPRK's Red Cross Society severs ties with S Korea
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s Red Cross Society on Wednesday cut off connections with South Korea in retaliation for its sponsorship of a U.N. resolution on DPRK's human rights record, the official KCNA news agency reported.
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Iran test-fired new missile
Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said on Wednesday the Islamic Republic has successfully test-fired a new generation surface-to-surface missile.
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DPRK to close land border with S Korea
The military of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was authorized to cut off all land borders with South Korea from December, the official KCNA news said on Wednesday.
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Obama, Bush deny economic policy bargaining
Aides of US president-elect Barack Obama and President George W. Bush denied Tuesday there had been any bargaining on economic plans during the two people's Monday meeting at the White House.
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US journalist kidnapped near Afghan capital
An American journalist with the New York Times along with his two Afghan colleagues were kidnapped Monday in Logar province, some 60 km south of Afghan capital Kabul, the spokesman for provincial administration said Tuesday.
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Israel must cede parts of Jerusalem for peace
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday used a memorial ceremony for former Premier Yitzhak Rabin to reiterate that Israel must be willing to give up parts of Jerusalem in return for peace.
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China, Iraq sign oil service deal
China and Iraq signed Monday an oil deal that would allow China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to help develop al-Ahdab oil field in eastern Iraq's Wasit province.
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 Obama, Bush wrap up talks at White House
US President-elect Barack Obama and the outgoing President George W. Bush wrapped up their talks at the White House Monday, without making any comments to the public.
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Senior Somali gov't official shot dead
Gunmen in the southern Somali town of Baidoa, the base of the transitional Somali parliament have shot dead a senior Somali government official, local media reports said Sunday.
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 G20 pledges to tackle global financial crisis
Finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of 20 (G20) major industrial and emerging economies closed their annual meeting in Sao Paulo on Sunday, vowing to jointly tackle the global financial crisis.
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S Korea denies possibility of FTA renegotiation with US
South Korean government Monday ruled out the possibility of the renegotiation of the free trade agreement (FTA) with the U.S., although the new Obama Administration is widely expected to adopt protectionist trade policies.
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G20 agrees to strengthen institutions, cooperation
The G20, group of the 20 largest economies of the world, on Sunday agreed that the economic institutions must be strengthened with a more significant role for emerging countries to face the world financial crisis.
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China's ties with Ethiopia on a higher level
China's top legislator Wu Bangguo said in Addis Ababa on Sunday that China's relations with Ethiopia have been developing quite rapidly in recent years and have been pushed up to a higher level.
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 Palestinians, Israel pledge to continue peace talks
The Palestinians and Israel promised on Sunday to carry on the peace negotiations resumed a year ago at a U.S.-hosted Mideast conference, although a deal is not likely to be reached by the end of this year as expected.
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Beijing high-level conference on climate change kicks off
A high-level conference on climate change opened in Beijing on Friday , with participants from nearly 100 governments, international and non-governmental organizations voicing views and proposing measures on technology development and transfer responding to climate change.
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China to fly flag for South at G20 summit
China will help developing countries at the upcoming G20 summit on the global financial crisis in Washington DC next Saturday, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
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US air strike kills 40 Afghan civilians
At least 40 Afghan civilians have been killed and 28 more injured as an airstrike of the US-led Coalition forces hit a wedding gathering in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province, officials and local villagers said Wednesday.
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42 killed in Philippine ferry capsizal
The Philippine government Wednesday said it was saddened by a sea mishap in the central province of Masbate as the death toll rose to 42 one day after the tragedy.
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Wall Street jumps in record Election Day rally
US stocks rose in the biggest Election Day rally ever on Tuesday, as investors looked forward to the end of the uncertainty surrounding the long fight for the White House, and as energy companies' shares followed oil prices higher.
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Austrian hostages held in Sahara freed
Two Austrian hostages kidnapped months ago when they were on holiday in Tunisia have been freed and are in the hands of Malian authorities, agencies reported on Friday.
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 US voters weigh local issues
American voters are busy weighing local issues this weekend to decide their positions on many state ballot measures, as they prepare to vote Tuesday in the presidential election.
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Ninth kidnapped Chinese in Sudan killed
The ninth worker of the nine Chinese workers kidnapped in Sudan has been killed and his body was found, confirmed an official at the Chinese embassy in Sudan on Friday evening.
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China, Kazakhstan issues communique
China and Kazakhstan issued a joint communique in Astana on Friday, pledging further efforts to promote bilateral strategic partnership and deepen cooperation in various fields.
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Pakistan earthquake kills over 200
The powerful earthquake occurred on Wednesday in southwestern Pakistan has killed more than 200 people and caused scores of injures, local television reported on Thursday.
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SCO PMs' meeting convenes in Astana
The seventh prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries convened in Astana on Thursday morning.
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DR Congo flare-up drives 30,000 people into camps near Goma
Fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is driving 30,000 people into refugee camps near Goma, the provincial capital of the country's eastern province of North Kivu, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Wednesday.
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Wall Street posts stunning gains
Wall Street rallied Tuesday as investors hunted for bargain in the oversold markets believing that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates.
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Dalai Lama urged to fulfil his promises
Dalai Lama and his supporters should seriously carry out the promises made in July this year, if they really wanted to improve relations with the Chinese central government, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in Beijing Tuesday at a regular press conference.
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Syria to close American institutions
The Syrian cabinet decided on Tuesday to close a Damascus-based American school and a US culture center in response to a deadly raid by US helicopters near the Syrian border with Iraq, the official SANA news agency reported.
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2 men charged in plot to kill Obama
Two US men were charged Monday for plotting a "killing spree" against African-Americans that would have been capped with an attempt to kill Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
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 Premier Wen arrives in Moscow
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Moscow on Monday for an official visit aimed at strengthening China's strategic partnership with Russia.
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14 killed in S Philippines conflict
One soldier and 13 separatist rebels were killed on Monday in a five-hour encounter in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao, a military official said.
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China set to ratify UN trafficking protocol
China plans to ratify a United Nations protocol on human trafficking as part of its ongoing fight against cross-border crime, a senior official from the Ministry of Public Security said Thursday.
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Suspected US drone kills 10 in Pakistan
At least 10 people were killed and several injured when a suspected US drone struck Miranshah area of Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal agency on the Afghan border, local media reported.
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Wall Street suffers heavy sell-off
Wall Street suffered another heavy sell-off Wednesday on increasing concerns about global economic recession and weak corporate earning outlook. All major indexes plunged more than 4 percent while the Dow Jones average declined more than 500 points.
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Russia lines up new anti-missile system
Russia's Strategic Missile Forces are being equipped with new anti-ballistic missile systems in response to US plans to deploy a missile shield in Europe, Interfax reported Wednesday.
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World leaders to meet on economy in Washington
World leaders will meet November 15 in Washington to address the global financial crisis – the first in a series of summits to mitigate what economists predict could be a long and deep downturn.
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Wen, Aso exchange messages
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso exchanged congratulatory messages Thursday to mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship
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Afghan police kill 35 Taliban militants
Afghan police forces with support of international troops air strike Tuesday evening put down Taliban assault in southern Afghan province of Uruzgan killing 35 militants, Juma Gul Humat, the provincial police chief told Xinhua on Wednesday.
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Air raids kill 9 soldiers in E Afghanistan
Nine Afghan soldiers were killed and three others injured as the international troops carried out air strikes against suspected Taliban hideouts in Afghanistan's eastern province of Khost early Wednesday, Afghan Defense Ministry said in a press release.
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Blast in Indian city kills 17, injures 16
At least 17 people were killed and 16 injured in a massive bomb explosion Imphal, the capital of Manipur Tuesday evening, two days after a blast near the Manipur's chief minister's official residence in Mumbai, according to NDTV.
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FM on US recall of China-made cribs
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said in Beijing on Tuesday that the Chinese government is willing to listen to complaints and find out what exactly are the problems relating to the US recall of China-made cribs.
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Hu, Bush talk ways to tackle crisis
Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday spoke over phone with his US counterpart George W. Bush about international cooperation to cope with the ongoing global financial turmoil.
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 China announces list of ETIM terrorists
Chinese police announced in Beijing on Tuesday morning the names of eight terrorists of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM). China called for global cooperation to ferret out whereabouts of the terrorists and extradite them to the Chinese government.
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21 dead, 11 injured in Mexico prison riot
At least 21 prisoners were killed and 11 others injured on Monday in a conflict between rival gangs in prison in the border city of Reynosa in northeastern Mexico, local authorities said.
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At least 2 Chinese citizens killed in Seoul
At least two Chinese citizens were killed and another three injured on Monday after a South Korean man set fire to a small inn in Seoul and stabbed guests there, said officials of the Chinese Embassy in Seoul.
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Japan's high court turns down Chinese WWII laborers' appeal
The Fukuoka High Court on Monday upheld the decision of the Nagasaki District Court to reject a damages suit filed by ten Chinese plaintiffs seeking compensation for forced labor in Japan under harsh conditions during World War II, local media reported.
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Over 20 insurgents killed, 8 arrested in Afghanistan
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have eliminated over 20 insurgents during a two-day operation in central eastern Afghan province of Wardak, said the alliance statement released in Kabul on Monday.
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Taliban kills 40 civilian Afghans
In a new wave of violence, the Taliban militants have killed 40 bus passengers after taking them as hostage in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province, provincial police chief Matihullah Khan Qati said Sunday.
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 Powell endorses Obama
Colin Powell, a Republican who was US President Bush's first secretary of state, endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president Sunday and criticized the tone of Republican John McCain's campaign.
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Czech: 'Tibetan flag incident' denounced
President of Czech's Chamber of Deputies (Lower House) Miloslav Vlcek has denounced the action by a few Green Party deputies of unfurling a Tibetan flag in front of the visiting Chinese parliamentary delegation last month.
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19 insurgents killed in N. Afghanistan
Afghan National Security Forces ( ANSF) backed by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have killed 19 insurgents in an ongoing offensive against insurgents in northern Afghan province of Wardak, said an ISAF statement issued in Kabul on Saturday.
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 EU summit focuses on financial crisis, climate change
Heads of state and government from 27 European Union countries concluded in Brussels on Thursday their two-day summit after demonstrating "unanimous" support to a concerted action plan adopted by their eurozone members to fight the current financial turmoil.
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Another 21 Filipino seamen hijacked off Somalia
Another group of 21 Filipino seamen were abducted by pirates off the dangerous waters off Somalia after their Philippine-operated bulk carrier was hijacked Wednesday, the Philippine government said on Thursday.
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Attempt to hijack Turkish plane foiled by passengers
An attempt to hijack a Turkish Airlines (THY) plane bound from southern Turkish province of Antalya to Russia's St Petersburg has been foiled by passengers on Wednesday, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.
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Georgia talks to resume next month
International talks on the situation of Georgia were suspended on Wednesday due to "procedural difficulties," but will resume on Nov. 18, organizers of the talks said.
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Economy dominates Obama-McCain final debate
As US presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama will soon to start their final debate Wednesday night at Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y., economy is the focus.
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Recession fears return to the fore
Positive market sentiment following bold government moves to stem the financial sector meltdown evaporated Wednesday and recession fears rose to the fore, sending shares slipping around the world after a two-day rally.
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All crew on sunken Vietnamese freighter rescued
All 10 crew members aboard a Vietnamese freighter that sank in the South China Sea off Hainan Province on Tuesday were rescued by a passing vessel early on Wednesday in a coordinated rescue effort by Chinese and Vietnamese maritime authorities.
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McCain offers new economic relief plan
U.S. Republican presidential nominee John McCain on Tuesday offered a new plan which includes 52.5 billion U.S. dollars in tax breaks aimed at reducing the impact of stock market losses.
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Vietnamese sailors in danger in S. China Sea
The lives of 10 crew members aboard a Vietnamese freighter were under threat as the vessel reported to Chinese maritime authorities on Tuesday afternoon it was sinking in the South China Sea off the Hainan Province.
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Voting begins in Canada general election
Voters in Canada's easternmost province of Newfoundland and Labrador started to hit the polling stations at 0830 local time (1100 GMT) Tuesday morning, to initiate the country's 40th general election.
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Abducted ship freed off Somali coast
Security forces of the northeastern Somali region on Tuesday freed an abducted ship carrying commercial goods for Somali business people after a gun battle with pirates off the coast of Somalia, local official said.
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Obama outlines economic rescue plan
US presidential race front-runner Barack Obama on Monday rolled out what his campaign called a four-part "economic rescue plan" for the middle class.
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Wall Street sees record one-day-surge
Wall Street saw its biggest one-day-surge Monday after eight days of deep losses that took the Dow down nearly 2,400 points as the West governments' plans to support the global banking system.
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Over 100 Taliban militants killed in Afghanistan
Battle between Taliban-led militants and Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) in Afghanistan's troubled Helmand province have claimed the lives of more than 100 insurgents over the past three days with 64 of them on Sunday, spokesman of provincial administration contended.
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Thai PM: Resignation no solution for political crisis
Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat insisted Sunday in a nation-wide TV address that he will not resign as the anti-government movement demanded, adding that his step-down will not solve the country's problems.
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Japan's Yamato Life collapses
Yamato Life Insurance Co. on Friday filed with the Tokyo District Court for bankruptcy protection due to losses related to the U.S. subprime crisis, Kyodo News reported.
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DPRK bars UN monitors from nuclear sites
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) formally informed the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Thursday that their access to facilities at Yongbyon would no longer be permitted, IAEA confirmed in a statement.
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Asia, Europe to address global issues
Asian and European leaders from more than 40 countries are expected to arrive in Beijing on Oct 24 for a two-day summit to address a series of pressing global issues, particularly the current financial crisis.
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Macedonia recognizes Kosovo's independence
Macedonia announced on Thursday that it has officially recognized Kosovo's independence after the parliament adopted earlier in the day a resolution calling for the recognition of the breakaway Serbian province, news reaching here from Skopje reported.
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Ukrainian president dissolves parliament
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko dissolved parliament on Wednesday and called an early election in a political crisis following his party's withdrawal from the ruling coalition early September.
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Polls: Obama winner of US presidential debate
A new poll suggests Wednesday that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama won the second US presidential debate with Republican opponent John McCain Tuesday night in Nashville, Tenn.
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 Obama, McCain face off in second debate
US presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain clashed on on how to lead the country out of economic downturn in their second round of debate Tuesday night at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.
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Bush to sign US-India nuclear bill
US President George W. Bush will sign into law on Wednesday a bill approved by Congress allowing civilian US nuclear trade with India, Bush's spokesman Carlton Carroll said Tuesday.
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Contagious virus sickens 200 US students
A highly contagious gastrointestinal virus has sickened another 70 students at the University of Southern California (USC), bringing the total number of sick students to 200, university officials said on Monday.
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EU split on how to tackle financial crisis
Despite a pledge by the leaders of the European Union (EU)'s big four -- France, Germany, Britain and Italy -- to coordinate in tackling the current financial crisis, divisions in Europe in the face of the difficulty remained obvious.
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Nearly 70 killed in Kyrgyzstan quake
The death toll from a strong earthquake in southern Kyrgyzstan Sunday night has risen to nearly 70, according to the country's emergencies ministry on Monday.
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Officials: Kyrgyzstan quake kills 65
Fifty-eight people died and 50 more were injured in the strong earthquake that rocked southern Kyrgyzstan Sunday night, the Interfax news agency reported Monday citing emergency officials.
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25 killed, over 65 injured in a Sri Lanka explosion
At least 25 people were killed and more than 65 injured in an explosion carried out by a suicide bomber of Tamil Tiger rebels in the north central district of Anuradhapura Monday morning, defense officials said.
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Palin defends terrorist comment against Obama
Sarah Palin defended her claim that Barack Obama "pals around with terrorists," saying the Democratic presidential nominee's association with a 1960s radical is an issue that is "fair to talk about."
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Russian troops begin dismantling posts in Georgia
The Russian troops started dismantling posts in the buffer zone around South Ossetia and Abkhazia to meet the Friday deadline for their withdrawal from Georgia's territory, the Itar-Tass news agency reported on Sunday.
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US, Iraq close to security deal
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said in New York on Saturday that the two countries are close to a security deal.
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DPRK accuses US of breaking six-party nuclear deal
The DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Pak Kil Yon, in a speech to the UN General Assembly's general debate on Saturday, accused the United States of breaking a six-party nuclear agreement and vowed to take countermeasures.
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UN reaffirms previous resolutions on Iran
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Saturday to reaffirm its previous resolutions on Iran and demand full compliance from the Islamic Republic.
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Damascus car bomb blast kills 17
A car bomb blast killed at least17 people and wounded 14 others in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Saturday morning, the state-owned Syrian TV reported.
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Ten die in the escalating fighting in Mogadishu
Ten civilians have been killed and twenty others wounded in a fierce fighting between insurgent fighters and Somali government forces backed by Ethiopian and African Union peacekeepers, hospital sources and local media reports said Friday.
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9 killed in Indonesian ferry fire
At least nine people were dead and dozens of others were injured after a ferry caught a fire in waters off Ambon the capital of Maluku province in eastern parts of Indonesia on Friday night, a police officer said.
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6 powers agree on Iran sanctions
Representatives from the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany on Friday agreed to submit to UN Security Council a draft resolution reaffirming existing sanctions on Iran.
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McCain to attend 1st debate with Obama
John McCain's campaign said Friday the US Republican presidential nominee will attend his first debate with Democratic opponent Barack Obama at Oxford, Mississippi on Friday night.
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Wen meets with Bill Gates
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met in New York on Thursday with Bill Gates, chairman of Bill & Gates Foundation, to discuss issues concerning development and poverty alleviation.
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Somalia pirates hijack Ukrainian ship with 21 crew
Armed Somali pirates have hijacked a Ukrainian ship with 21 crew members off the coast of Somalia in the latest attacks along the world's most dangerous waters, a regional maritime official said on Friday.
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Bush, McCain, Obama meet over bailout plan
US President Bush and the two men fighting to succeed him joined forces Thursday at a historic White House meeting on a multibillion-dollar Wall Street bailout plan, aiming to stave off a national economic disaster. Key members of the US Congress said they had struck a deal earlier in the day, but its future was unclear.
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Wen calls for intensive efforts on MDGs
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Thursday urged the international community, especially developed nations, to speed up intensive efforts to realize the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
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China and EU reach consensus on IPR, energy, trade topics
Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming and European Union (EU) trade commissioner Peter Mandelson kicked off the 23rd China-EU Mixed Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing and reached consensus on a wide array of topics.
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Wen, Brown meet on international issues
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown met in New York on Wednesday to discuss major international issues of common concern, particularly the international community's aid to Africa.
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IAEA: DPRK nuclear facility no longer under int'l supervision
Seals and surveillance equipment set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been removed from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s reprocessing plant in Yongbyon, IAEA spokesperson Mellissa Fleming said in Vienna on Wednesday.
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Aso picks chums, hawkish Cabinet
Japan's new prime minister, Taro Aso, appointed several outspoken nationalist allies to his Cabinet Wednesday, while keeping a fiscal reformer for a key post.
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 Obama rejects McCain's call to delay debate
The US economic crisis and raw politics threatened to derail the first presidential debate as John McCain challenged Barack Obama to delay the Friday forum and join forces to help Washington fix the financial mess. Obama rebuffed his GOP rival, saying the next US president needs to "deal with more than one thing at once".
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China, Venezuela sign series of deals
China and Venezuela on Wednesday inked a series of agreements on wide-ranging fields, a sign of bilateral efforts to advance their strategic partnership to a new high.
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Finnish school shooter who made web videos kills 11
A chilling YouTube video with a young man firing a pistol and warning "You will die next" caught the eye of police, who questioned him but then let him go, saying they didn't have enough evidence to take away his weapon.
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ROK toxic fish feed not from China
China on Tuesday said that a preliminary investigation found that fish feed made from contaminated squid powder, which was reportedly found in the Republic of Korea (ROK), was not made with Chinese export products.
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Venezuelan President starts China visit
Venezuelan President Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias arrived in Beijing on Tuesday morning, starting a three-day state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.
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19 hurt in vehicle attack in Jerusalem
A man driving a black BMW plowed into a crowd of people at a busy Jerusalem intersection Monday evening, leaving 19 people hurt, an Israel Police spokesman told Xinhua.
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Foreign tourists kidnapped in Egypt
A group of foreign tourists have been kidnapped in Egypt on Monday. The foreigners were taken by bandits while they were on an expedition in the desert between Aswan and Sudan, reported al-Jazeera TV channel.
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US soldier accused of abusing and killing Iraqi
Military prosecutors accused a US soldier Sunday of taking an Iraqi detainee to a remote desert location, stripping him naked, shooting him in the head and chest and then watching as another soldier set fire to the body with an incendiary grenade.
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Al Qaeda suspected of Pakistan's Marriott bombing
A suicide bomb attack that killed 53 people at the Marriott Hotel in Pakistan's capital bore the hallmarks of an operation by al Qaeda or an affiliate, Pakistani and US intelligence officials said on Sunday.
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DPRK starts to restore nuclear facilities
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has begun the work to restore its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon "to their original state", a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday.
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US airstrike kills 8 in Baghdad
A US helicopter bombarded a house in a village in the Salahudin province early on Friday, killing eight family members, a provincial security source said.
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200 children poisoned in Colombia
At least 200 children and an undetermined number of adults were poisoned on Thursday in the Boyaca Province in central Colombia, government officials said.
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 19 prisoners killed in Mexico prison riot
At least 19 prisoners were killed in a riot at the La Mesa State Penitentiary in the border city of Tijuana in northwest Mexico after police opened fire to regain control of the facility, authorities said Thursday.
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Chinese-European Arbitration Center inaugurated
The Chinese-European Arbitration Center (CEAC), the first international arbitration center designed to resolve China-Europe trade disputes, was inaugurated in northwestern German city Hamburg on Thursday.
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Somali pirates hijack HK ship
Armed Somali pirates hijacked Wednesday a Hong Kong bulk carrier with 25 crew members, 24 of them Chinese, off the Somali coast, the Chinese embassy in Nairob confirmed.
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China, India hold new talks on border
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Thursday said he hoped for a fair and reasonable framework to settle the boundary issue between China and India at an early date.
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UNGA not to include Taiwan proposal on agenda
The General Committee of the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly decided on Wednesday not to include the so-called issue of "Taiwan's participation in the activities of United Nations specialized agencies," submitted by Nauru, Gambia and a very few other countries, into the agenda of the General Assembly.
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US considering new steps against Russia
The United States is considering to take further actions against Russia after the latter's invasion of Georgia, Under Secretary of State William Burns said in Washington on Wednesday.
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 Russia signs treaties with S. Ossetia, Abkhazia
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and the leaders of Georgia's breakaway regions – South Ossetia and Abkhazia – signed treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance in Moscow on Wednesday.
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Exit polls see big win for Livni
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is found by three exit polls to be the winner of the primary of the ruling Kadima party on Wednesday.
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Israel's ruling party elects Olmert's successor
The primary of Israel's ruling Kadima party began on Wednesday morning, with four current ministers competing to succeed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as party chief and possibly as premier.
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Thai parliament votes Somchai as PM
Thailand's House of Representatives on Wednesday voted Somchai Wongsawat, acting prime minister and deputy leader of People Power Party, as the country's new prime minister.
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UN to debate bigger Security Council
The UN General Assembly opened the door on Monday to expanding the Security Council by calling for full-scale negotiations on adding new members to the United Nations' most powerful body.
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 McCain, Obama joust over how to fix Wall Street
Barack Obama took dead aim at John McCain 's economic philosophy Tuesday, charging that the Republican presidential candidate would extend Bush administration policies that helped foster Wall Street's turmoil, while McCain proposed creating a blue-ribbon commission to study the nation's deepening financial crisis.
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PPP decides to nominate Somchai as Thai new PM
Thailand's People Power Party (PPP)on Tuesday agreed during its party meeting that it will nominate the caretaker Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to contest the premier post on Wednesday's parliament voting session.
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Up to 20 killed in Diyala suicide bombing
Up to 20 people were killed and 30 others were injured when a woman suicide bomber blew herself up at a house in the volatile Diyala province on Monday, a provincial police source said.
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NATO reiterates backing for Georgia
NATO's chief and envoys of member states assured Georgia of the alliance's support for the Caucasus nation on Monday after its latest hostilities with Russia, but there was no sign Georgia is on a faster track toward joining the alliance.
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Venezuela expels US ambassador
In the latest of a series of tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has ordered the US ambassador to Caracas to leave the country.
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Powerful quakes strike Indonesia, Japan
A shallow earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 rocked North Maluku province on Thursday morning. Within minutes, another 7.0-magnitude quake jolted Japan's Hokkaido region.
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Georgia accuses Russia of violating truce
Georgia accused Russia on Wednesday of violating a cease-fire deal after a Georgian police officer was fatally shot near a Russian checkpoint close to the breakaway region of South Ossetia.
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 US presidential race deadlocked
The race for the White House is now deadlocked at 47 percent for Democrat Barack Obama and 46 percent for Republican John McCain among registered voters, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released Tuesday.
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FM: China-India strategic partnership
China-India relationship stands at a new starting point, the two should view and approach relations from a strategic and long-term perspective and keep moving forward their partnership to benefit the two countries and peoples, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in New Delhi on Tuesday.
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 Zardari sworn in as Pakistani president
The Pakistan People's Party (PPP)Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was sworn in as Pakistani president at a ceremony in Islamabad on Tuesday, embarking on a five-year term in the top office of the country.
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Killer Ike blasts Bahamas, aims at Cuba
Ike roared across low-lying islands Sunday as a Category 4 hurricane, destroying homes, sweeping away boats and bringing more rain to waterlogged communities in Haiti, where at least 48 people died in the floods.
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 US gov't takes over Fannie, Freddie
The US government said on Sunday that it will take over two mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in order to stabilize the financial market.
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Angolan parliamentary election begins
Angola's parliamentary election began at 7 a.m. (0600 GMT) on Friday, in which 10 political parties and four coalitions are contesting for 220 parliamentary seats.
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Chinese woman stabbed to death in NZ
The Chinese Consulate-general in Auckland confirmed on Thursday that a Chinese national woman was stabbed to death in an apartment in New Zealand's largest city Auckland.
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 Palin's speech draws 37 mln viewers
US Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's Wednesday speech drew over 37.2 million combined viewers on six TV networks, Nielsen Media Research said Thursday.
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Cheney: Georgia will be in NATO
US Vice President Dick Cheney Thursday reaffirmed America's commitment to Georgia's bid for NATO membership as he landed in Tbilisi for a brief visit to extend US support to the Caucasus nation following its recent conflict with Russia.
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Taliban: No plan to kill Chinese hostages
Pakistani Taliban said on Wednesday they would not kill two Chinese engineers and two Pakistanis they have been holding since last week, but they would not release them unless unspecified demands were met.
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 Pakistani PM 'escapes' assassination attempt
Unknown assailants attacked the motorcade of Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani on the Islamabad Highway Wednesday afternoon, a statement released by the Prime Minister's House said.
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Thailand's political impasse drags on
Thai Army Commander-in-Chief Anupong Paojinda, who was assigned by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to take charge of enforcement of Emergency Decree in Bangkok, pledged that the military would stand along with "the people" and no force will be used against protesters who seized the administration seat.
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Georgia formally breaks ties with Russia
Georgia formally cut diplomatic ties with Russia on Tuesday in protest against Moscow's recognition of the independence of two breakaway Georgian regions, and welcomed the decisions of an emergency EU summit on its conflict with Russia.
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State of emergency declared in Bangkok
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Tuesday morning announced to impose a state of emergency in Bangkok following violent clashes between the pro and anti-government protesters in early morning.
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EU summit ends without sanctions against Russia
An extraordinary European Union summit ended in Brussels on Monday without sanctions against Russia though the 27-nation bloc managed to speak in one voice in condemning Russia and urging it to fully implement a cease-fire deal with Georgia.
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Ongoing Afghan battle kills over 220 militants
The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and the U.S.-led Coalition forces have killed more than 220 militants during clean-up operations in southern Afghan province of Helmand since Aug. 25, said a Coalition statement released in Kabul on Monday.
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Probe team confirms 90 civilians killed by US strikes
Afghan government's investigating team into the case of killing civilians by U.S. air strikes in western Herat province has found that 90 non-combatants were killed in the raids on Aug. 22, a statement released by the Presidential Palace Sunday said.
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Gustav changes US Republican convention
US Republicans have decided to change the schedule of their Sept. 1-4 national convention due to Hurricane Gustav, Republican presidential hopeful John McCain said Sunday.
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Karadzic to make second appearance in UN court
Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic will appear before the United Nations war crimes court in The Hague Friday when he is asked to make pleas to charges of genocide and war crimes.
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Putin criticizes US over Georgia conflict
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the United States on Thursday of failing to keep Georgia from launching attacks against South Ossetia, saying the move had caused damage to bilateral ties.
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German broadcaster suspends Chinese worker
A Chinese woman working at Germany's DW-Radio has been suspended from her job following remarks she made in the media on human rights and other issues in China, the German press has reported.
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Georgia recalls most diplomats from Russia
Georgia will reduce its diplomatic staff in its embassy in Moscow to a minimum, Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili said on Wednesday, a day after Russia recognized the independence of two Georgian breakaway regions.
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Sudan hijackers to free women, children
The hijackers of a Sudanese plane forced to land in Libya have agreed to free women and children, the pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV channel reported on Wednesday.
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US-led air strikes killed 90 Afghan civilians
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Tuesday confirmed the killing of 90 civilians including women and children in Shindand district of western Herat province during air strike by US-led Coalition forces against Taliban militants, a statement released said.
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 Obama camp woos working women voters
US presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama's campaign wooed women voters on Tuesday by promising economic relief policies for working women as Vice President candidate Joe Biden made his public debut at the national convention.
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1 million cut off by monsoon floods in India
Authorities struggled Monday to get aid to more than 1 million people stranded by floods in a north Indian state, with one local government leader describing the situation as a catastrophe.
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China-ROK ties enjoy steady growth
Chinese President Hu Jintao will start a two-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Monday at the invitation of his ROK counterpart Lee Myung-bak.
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Iran designs 2nd nuke power plant
Deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Saeedi said in Tehran on Sunday that his country is designing a 360-megawatt nuclear power plant, the official IRNA news agency reported.
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 70 killed in Kyrgyzstan airliner crash
About 70 passengers, including one Chinese citizen, were killed in the crash of a Boeing-737 passenger jet near Bishkek, capital of Central Asia's Kyrgyzstan on Sunday.
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37 people die in flood in E. Pakistan
As many as 37 people died during the current spell of rain and flood in eastern Pakistan's Punjab province, official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported Friday.
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Hu meets Sarkozy
Chinese President Hu Jintao met in Beijing on Friday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games and other activities.
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 Georgia, South Ossetia exchange fire
Georgian armed forces traded gunfire with militants of the breakaway region of South Ossetia near the regional capital Tskhinvali overnight Thursday into Friday.
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Rice warns of more sanctions against Iran
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reiterated on Thursday that Iran will face more sanctions if it fails to give an adequate response to the latest incentives package by the six major powers.
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Dialogue urged to solve human rights disputes
China and the United States should conduct dialogues and exchanges based on equal-footing and mutual respect to solve their disputes on human rights and religious issues, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
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Mauritanian military stages coup in capital
The Mauritanian military staged a coup on Wednesday in the capital of Nouakchott, arresting President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi and Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghf, reports from agencies said.
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Military jury convicts bin Laden's driver
A jury of six military officers at Guantanamo Bay reached a split verdict Wednesday in the war crimes trial of a former driver for Osama bin Laden, clearing him of some charges but convicting him of others that could send him to prison for life.
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Major powers mulling new sanctions against Iran
The United States and four other permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany are considering new sanctions against Iran after Tehran failed to give clear answer to an incentives package by the six major powers, the State Department said Wednesday.
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Israel's Olmert to be questioned Friday
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will on Friday be put on the grill by police for the fifth time in three months, local daily The Jerusalem Post reported Tuesday.
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EU receives reply from Iran on nuke incentive
Javier Solana, foreign policy chief of the European Union, has received a reply from Iran to an incentive package aimed at encouraging Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment, an EU source said Wednesday.
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 Bush arrives in Seoul, faces large anti-US protest
US President George W. Bush arrived in Seoul on Tuesday to launch his two-day official visit to South Korea. Civic activists against US beef imports vowed to stage candlelight rally Tuesday evening in Seoul.
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Six major countries mull new sanctions against Iran
Five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany are considering new sanctions against Iran after the Islamic republic failed to give a positive response to suspend its controversial nuclear program, the State Department said Monday.
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 UN reports improvement in Iraq's security
A combination of political and military efforts has led to continued improvements in security across Iraq in the past three months, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday in his latest report to the Security Council on the UN Assistance Mission to the country (UNAMI).
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Man stabbed, decapitated on bus in Canada
A male passenger in his 20s was stabbed repeatedly and later decapitated by another male in his 40s while traveling on a bus in Canada's Manitoba province, police and witnesses said Thursday.
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Iran: No nuclear deadline set in Tehran talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has said no deadline was agreed upon during last month's meeting between Iran and major powers for Tehran to answer a package of incentives, Iran's English-language satellite channel Press TV reported Thursday.
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Japanese PM to reshuffle Cabinet
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is to reshuffle his 17-member Cabinet Friday, Japanese media reported Thursday, quoting senior lawmakers of the ruling coalition.
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 Karadzic says he fears for his life
Former Bosnian Serbleader Radovan Karadzic said at the United Nations war crimes court Thursday that he is gravely concerned about his life because the United States might be seeking to "liquidate" him.
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Thaksin's wife sentenced to 3 years in jail
Thailand's Criminal Court on Thursday found former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's wife, Pojaman Shinawatra, guilty of tax evasion involving 546 million bath (some 15.8 million U.S. dollars) in a shares-transferring deal and sentenced her to a three-year jail term.
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Israeli PM to resign
Facing burgeoning corruption allegations and plummeting popularity, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday he will resign in September, throwing Israel into political turmoil and raising doubts about prospects for peace with the Palestinians and Syria.
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 Medvedev meets with quake-affected Chinese students
As the special guests of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, 50 students from China's quake-hit Sichuan province Wednesday visited the glittering Andrew Hall of the Kremlin, and had a joyous time with the Russian president.
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FM: Bush sends 'seriously wrong' message
China on Wednesday expressed strong discontent with and firm opposition to U.S. President George W. Bush's meeting with some anti-China persons, saying the move sent a "seriously wrong" message to anti-China forces.
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Moderate earthquake shakes Los Angeles
A magnitude-5.4 earthquake shook Los Angeles and surrounding areas in Southern California on Tuesday, but there were no immediate reports of any injuries or damage.
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WTO talks collapse amid farm row
Marathon talks to salvage a global trade pact collapsed on Tuesday as the United States and India refused to compromise over a proposal to help poor farmers deal with floods of imports.
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 Wildfire threatens Yosemite Park in Calif.
Mariposa resident Vickie LeComte watches flames rise from along the bed of the Merced River along Highway 140, near Yosemite National Park in Midpines, California July 28, 2008. The fire, dubbed the "Telegraph Fire", has scorched more than 26,000 acres and consumed 12 homes.
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Chinese FM meets with Bush on constructive relations
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and U.S. President George W. Bush met at the White House on Tuesday, agreeing to push forward with the constructive and cooperative relations between the two countries.
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Female suicide bombers kill 57 in Iraq
Three female suicide bombers killed at least 32 people and wounded 102 when they blew themselves up among Shi'ites walking through the streets of Baghdad on a religious pilgrimage yesterday, Iraqi police said.
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US deficit zooming to half-trillion as Bush leaves
The US government's budget deficit will surge past a half-trillion dollars next year, according to gloomy new estimates, a record flood of red ink that promises to force the winner of the presidential race to dramatically alter his economic agenda.
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 Emirates Airlines receives first Airbus A380
Emirates Airlines took delivery Monday of the first of 58 Airbus A380 superjumbo planes it has ordered and said it had signed a multibillion dollar deal to buy 60 other aircraft from the European plane builder.
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Obama's visit to Europe aims to boost campaign
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama wrapped up his three-day European tour Saturday after meeting leaders of major U.S. allies and harvesting enormous popularity among the public of the three countries he has traveled to.
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Kidnapped Chinese set free in Afghanistan
A Chinese national working for a Chinese company who was kidnapped by unknown militants in the central Afghan province of Wardak last month was set free Sunday, said the Chinese embassy in Kabul.
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8 hurt, 1 dead in gun rampage at US church
A man wielding a shotgun entered a church and opened fire as congregants watched a youth performance Sunday, killing one person and injuring eight others, police said.
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Plane with over 300 on board makes emergency landing
A Boeing 747 passenger plane with over 300 passengers and crew members made an emergency landing at the Manila international airport in the Philippines on Friday after a "hole in its belly" caused it to lose cabin pressure.
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FARC releases 8 hostages
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has released eight people that were kidnapped two weeks ago and handed them over to a branch of the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) in Choco state, the Colombian Army announced Thursday.
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Zimbabwe rival parties start talks
Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Changes (MDC) formally started talks Thursday in South Africa's administrative capital Pretoria to seek an end to Zimbabwe's political deadlock.
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WTO chief: No breakthrough in trade talks
Key WTO members achieved no breakthrough in the Doha Round trade negotiations, after 12 hours of intensive work that ended early Thursday morning, WTO chief Pascal Lamy said.
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 NATO chief seeks to tackle Afghan security challenge
Visiting NATO secretary general Jaapde Hoop Scheffer said Thursday in Kabul a regional approach is "more than ever" needed in tackling Afghan security situation, calling for increased political attention from concerned parts and international community.
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Bin Laden happy with 9/11 toll
Osama bin Laden's former driver has heard the al-Qaida leader express satisfaction with the death toll of the September 11, 2001, attacks at the US which was more than his expectation, according to a news report on Wednesday.
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 Chinese students get home-like treatment in Russia
"I know that people from China's Sichuan province like chili and rice, so our priority is to make sure every kid can have them everyday," said Vitaly Marzoev, director of the All-Russia Children's Care Center, in an interview with Xinhua Tuesday.
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Obama vows to work for Mideast peace
Visiting U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama vowed in Amman Tuesday to admit the difficulties facing Palestinians and actively involve in the Middle East peace process if elected in November.
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Britain to withdraw more troops in 2009
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Tuesday that his country would withdraw more troops from Iraq early next year as the security in Iraq was "transformed."
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Iraq sees hope of US troop withdrawal by 2010
The Iraqi government said Monday that it hopes the U.S. combat troops would leave by 2010, raising a clear vision of time line after the two countries have agreed on a vague "time horizon."
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War crime suspect Karadzic arrested
Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, a top war crimes suspect, was arrested on Monday night in Serbia, the office of Serbian President Boris Tadic said in a statement.
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Yadav elected first Nepali president
Ram Baran Yadav from Nepali Congress (NC), the elected first Nepali president, will take oath on Tuesday, the Constituent Assembly (CA) speaker declared on Monday afternoon.
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US B-52 bomber crashes off Guam, killing 2
Two US airmen were killed and four missing after their B-52 bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean shortly after take-off on Monday, while preparing to fly in a Liberation Day parade in the US territory of Guam, officials said.
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Peking Duck flies off UK menu on oven fears
British athletes and officials should seize the opportunity of staying in the Olympic Village and other visitors from the UK use their stay in China to gorge on the Peking Duck.
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 China sees ties with Russia as priority
While meeting with Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov, President Hu Jintao said on Monday that the relationship with Russia has been China's diplomatic priority.
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Obama meets Karzai in Kabul
US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama discussed terrorism, corruption and drugs at a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai yesterday, day two of a trip meant to bolster his foreign policy credentials.
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US forces kill son of Iraqi governor
US forces shot the 17-year-old son and another relative of the governor of northern Iraq's Salahuddin Province during a raid Sunday, local officials said.
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 Iran says nuclear talks a step forward
Iranian officials on Sunday voiced their satisfaction at the latest high-level talks between major countries and Tehran over its controversial nuclear programs in Geneva, Switzerland.
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Russia to return islands to China
Russia will soon return 174 sq km of territory on the northeast border to China, ending more than 40 years of negotiations. The two countries will sign an agreement to this effect during Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's two-day visit to Beijing that starts today.
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 Iraqi Sunnis return to government
The Iraqi government on Saturday endorsed a list of ministerial posts, including candidates from a leading Sunni party alliance which quitted the government a year ago.
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Israel committed to kidnapped soldiers
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Thursday reiterated that his country is committed to bring back the kidnapped soldiers, as the nation mourns for two reservists returned in a prisoner exchange with Hezbollah.
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Obama raises $52 mln in June
U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama raked in 52 million U.S. dollars in June, more than double the June take for his Republican rival John McCain, who had his best month of the year, CNN reported Thursday.
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 Pyongyang reaches out to the skies
It has demolished one structure but has begun work to complete another, this one of gigantic proportions. And both make the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's intention of giving up its nuclear program clear.
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US freezes arms sale to Taiwan
The US has frozen its arms sale to Taiwan in deference to China's demand and the government is watching Washington's moves closely.
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Israel, Hezbollah swap prisoners on border
Israel on Wednesday returned five Lebanese prisoners to Hezbollah after receiving the bodies of two kidnapped Israeli soldiers from the Lebanese group in a prisoners swap between the two sides.
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Israel, Hezbollah swap prisoners
Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group began swapping prisoners Wednesday morning at the Rosh Hanikra Lebanon-Israel border crossing.
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Medvedev ratifies new Russian foreign policy paper
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ratified a new foreign policy paper on the general direction of the country's diplomatic efforts, as well as its relations with the United States, Europe and NATO.
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Sudan warns ICC indictment could ruin Darfur peace
The Sudanese government warned Tuesday that UN peacekeeping work in its strife-torn region of Darfur region would suffer if President Omar al-Bashir were to be indicted for war crimes and arrested by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
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Oil prices suffer biggest drop in 17 yrs
Crude prices plunged almost 7 U.S. dollars a barrel Tuesday, the biggest daily drop since 1991, due to fears that U.S. economic woes could hurt global oil demand.
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China allowed to import ivory from Africa
A UN panel gave right to China on Tuesday to import African elephant ivory under strict conditions. Previously Japan was the only country that have won right from the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to import ivory from Africa.
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 S. Korea, Japan renew territorial dispute
South Korea on Monday strongly denounced Japan's territorial claim over the disputed islets of Dokdo, which Japan calls Takeshima, in the Sea of Japan, vowing to take series of countermeasures against Japan's move.
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Obama: shifting focus from Iraq to Afghanistan
US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Monday that he would set a goal of having all U.S. combat brigades out of Iraq by summer 2010 and shift more resources to fighting al-Qaida in Afghanistan.
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Darfur docu-film 'strongly biased'
A BBC documentary alleging China has violated the UN arms embargo in Darfur is biased and made with ulterior motives, China's special envoy for Darfur said yesterday.
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 EU, Mediterranean summit launches union, agrees on projects
A summit of European Union (EU) and Mediterranean countries concluded Sunday with the approval of six cooperation projects as well as principles of the functioning of the Union for the Mediterranean, which was officially launched at the summit.
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Iran vows to fight back against attacks
Iranian officials vowed on Sunday that the Islamic Republic would fight back against any attacks on it and "cut off the hands" of the invaders, amid heightened speculation that Israel and the United States would attack Iranian targets for Tehran's suspicious nuclear programs.
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DPRK snubs ROK, says no to talks offer
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) has agreed to dismantle its Yongbyon nuclear facility by October in exchange for international aid but rejected the proposal of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to resume their stalled reconciliation talks.
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9 Chinese missing off northeastern Madagascar
Nine Chinese, including eight Taiwan businessmen and one person from the Chinese mainland, had been missing in the sea off northeastern Madagascar since Thursday, the Chinese embassy said Sunday.
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Hill: Friday's meeting on verification principles to be key thing
US top negotiator to the six-party talks Christopher Hill said in Beijing Thursday mid-night that he believes the current key thing will be Friday's denuclearization working group meeting which will focus on the details of the principles for the verification mechanism.
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Mexican President starts China visit
Mexican President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa arrived in Shanghai Wednesday night, kicking off a four-day state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.
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Iraq demands troop withdrawal timetable
Iraq's stance in negotiations with the US over the country's security has been getting tougher, a trend obviously seen when an Iraqi security officer demanded a definite deadline of US troops' withdrawal.
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Obama, McCain debate on Iraq policy
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's public demand for the U.S. troops withdrawal timetable from the country fueled on Tuesday the debate between Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and his Republican rival John McCain on Iraq policy.
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UNSC remains divided on Zimbabwe issue
The UN Security Council remained divided on the issue of Zimbabwe on Tuesday as Western powers pressed for targeted sanctions against President Robert Mugabe and his top aides.
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Leaders of China, India, Brazil, S Africa, Mexico meet
Leaders from China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico gathered Tuesday in Sapporo, capital of Hokkaido, northern Japan, to exchange views on the issues of common concern.
· Hu meets Indian PM on bilateral ties, global issues
· G8 leaders agree to halve greenhouse gas emission by 2050
· G8 leaders express 'strong concerns' about oil price rise
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London school regrets honoring Dalai Lama
Britain's London Metropolitan University recently apologized for bestowing an honorary doctorate to the Dalai Lama after the move drew intense criticism from a number of Chinese.
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 G8 summit kicks off
The three-day summit of the Group of Eight (G8) kicks off on Monday with the first session between leaders of the industrialized nations with their counterparts from seven African countries.
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S Korean Cabinet reshuffled
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak Monday reshuffled the Cabinet, sacking three ministers, a presidential spokesman said.
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Bush: Chinese people watching carefully
US President George W Bush Sunday defended removing North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, and once again made clear he will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics as world leaders assembled to address soaring gas prices, climate change and African aid in Japan.
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G8 is unlikely to agree on climate deal
Prospects of the G8 reaching a meaningful agreement on how best to fight global warming dimmed as leaders, with a long list of global problems, began gathering in northern Japan for their annual summit.
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Tsvangirai boycotts inter-party talks
Zimbabwean opposition MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai snubbed mediation efforts by South African President Thabo Mbeki when he, at the last minute, failed to turn up for a meeting at Zimbabwe House, where he was scheduled to meet President Mugabe on Saturday, The Sunday Mail reported.
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Ethiopian, Somali armies kill 71 Somali rebels
The joint Ethiopian army and forces of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government killed 71 Somali rebels in a recent military operation launched in Meteban and Gura'el areas in central Somalia, state media reported.
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Poll: Sarkozy's approval rating goes down
French President Nicolas Sarkozy's approval ratings has continued on downward spiral, falling four points compared to June, with only 33 percent of French people saying that they trust him to solve their problems, according to the findings of a new opinion poll.
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Over 50 injured in blast in Belarus
Over 50 people were injured in an explosion in Minsk, capital of Belarus, late Thursday during the Independence Day celebration, the Itar-Tass news agency reported Friday, citing Belarussian Interior Ministry sources.
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3 killed in Jerusalem bulldozer attack
A Palestinian construction worker rampaged in a bulldozer along one of west Jerusalem's busiest streets on Wednesday, killing three Israelis as he crushed cars and overturned a bus before being shot dead.
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Iran pledges to react fiercely to any attack
Iranian Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari warned on Wednesday that any attack on his country would meet with a fierce reaction and have severe consequences for the already volatile oil markets.
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Sarkozy not wanted at Olympics, survery says
Chinese people do not want French President Nicolas Sarkozy's to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, according to the results of a survey published on Wednesday.
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Colombian hostages freed from FARC
The Colombian government said Wednesday that its army has rescued 15 hostages, including former presidency candidate Ingrid Betancourt held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
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Mongolia declares state of emergency
Mongolian President Nambariin Enkhbayar declared Tuesday a four-day state of emergency as protestors went on the rampage in the capital claiming that weekend elections were rigged.
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Hu to attend G8 summit in Japan
Chinese President Hu Jintao will attend the the G8 summit in Japan from July 7 to 9 at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.
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Provinces to draft green plans with EU, UN helps
More than US$4 million from Norway, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will be invested to help 31 Chinese provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions draft programs to fight climate change in the next two years, organizers said in Beijing on Monday.
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 China's US policy remains unchanged
President Hu Jintao told visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday that relations between China and the United States were at a "crucial stage" linking the past to the future.
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 China, US armed forces vow to enhance cooperation
China is active in extending relations between Chinese and US armed forces and hopes for their healthy and stable development, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) Xu Caihou said on Monday.
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Iran digging 320,000 graves for invaders
A senior Iranian military official said on Sunday the Islamic republic is digging some 320,000 graves in its border provinces for future slain invaders, Iran's English-language satellite channel Press TV reported.
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7 killed in Pakistan missile attack
Seven people were killed and two others injured in a missile attack in northwestern Pakistan's tribal area Monday morning, local TV channel Geo reported.
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Two copters collide in Arizona, killing 7
A mid-air collision of two medical helicopters left at least seven people dead and three others seriously injured Sunday in Arizona, said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
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More than 50 Indian policemen feared drowned to death
More than 50 policemen were feared to have been drowned to death in a 40-meter deep reservoir in the Indian state of Orissa Sunday morning as the boat ferrying them came under gunfire by Naxalites from a hill, NDTV reported.
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Israeli cabinet approves Hezbollah prisoner swap
Israeli cabinet on Sunday approves a prisoners swap deal with the Lebanese movement Hezbollah, which will bring back two kidnapped Israeli soldiers who Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said are already dead.
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World oil industry leaders meet
Leaders in the world oil industry are holding their biggest meeting in three years in Madrid on Sunday, with high hopes of finding possible solutions to the soaring oil prices.
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Russia, China to boost environmental cooperation
Chinese Environmental Protection Minister Zhou Shengxian met with Russian Natural Resources and Ecology Minister Yuri Trutnev in Moscow on Thursday. They agreed that Russia and China have made great progress in environmental cooperation and pledged to boost the cooperation.
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Kids head to Russia, with love
Several hundred schoolchildren from quake-hit areas of Sichuan Province will leave for Russia next month, for rehabilitation, the Russian ambassador to Beijing said yesterday.
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US to remove N Korea from terror list
The United States said Wednesday that it would quickly remove North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism if North Korea makes a full declaration of its nuclear programs.
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Over 22 militants killed in Afghan battles
Over 22 militants were killed and 12 others were detained in Tuesday overnight battles, separately happened in eastern Afghan province of Paktika and southern province of Helmand, said the statements from the US-led Coalition forces released in Kabul on Wednesday.
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Gaza rockets hit Israeli Sderot area
Three Qassam rockets fired Tuesday afternoon from the Gaza Strip landed in the Sderot area, five days after a ceasefire enacted between Israel and Palestinian militant groups last week.
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Sarkozy scared by Israeli suicide
An officer of Israel Border Guard shot himself dead on Tuesday during a farewell ceremony held in honor of French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Ben-Gurion International Airport.
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FM on East China Sea issue
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi answered media questions on East China Sea in Beijing on Tuesday. Following is a tentative translation of the questions and answers:
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Philippines to drill capsized ferry
Philippine authorities said Monday they are sending divers to drill a hole on the hull of the capsized ferry, M/V Princess of the Stars, to get out passengers who might trapped inside the overturned ship.
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EU agrees on new sanctions against Iran
The European Union (EU) approved new sanctions against Iran on Monday over the country's nuclear program, which Tehran has repeatedly said is for civilian purposes only.
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Zimbabwean opposition leader pulls out of run-off
Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has announced that he will not take part in the presidential run-off against incumbent President Robert Mugabe, local media further confirmed on Sunday.
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Typhoon death toll reaches 229 in Philippines
The past weekend marked one of the darkest dates in the Philippines' natural disaster-battering history, with reports of floods, landslides, flooded streets and a sunken ship with over 700 passengers on board.
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Russia, Belarus vow to further ties
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Belarussian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko has pledged to enhance bilateral relations, while the two post-Soviet countries are striving for integration.
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Jia Qinglin calls for closer ties with Romania
China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin said in Beijing on Sunday that China and Romania have been good partners and should work together to push bilateral relations to a higher level.
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Obama rejects public financing
US Senator Barack Obama will not accept public financing for his general election campaign, he told supporters Thursday.
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S Korea, US fail to make breakthrough in beef talks
Top trade officials from South Korea and the United States have met again in last-ditch efforts to resolve the issue of safeguards on the export of beef from older cattle, but failed to make a breakthrough.
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Rice to visit S Korea, China
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit South Korea and China following a meeting of G8 foreign ministers in Kyoto, Japan later this month, State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said Thursday.
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Hundreds of militants killed or injured in Afghanistan
Hundreds of militants have been killed or injured as Afghan troops backed by NATO launched operation against Taliban fighters in Arghandab district of Kandahar province in south Afghanistan on Wednesday, provincial governor Assadullah Khalid said Thursday.
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Kim Jong Il meets Xi Jinping
The top leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Il, met visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Wednesday to highlight the warm ties between the two neighboring countries.
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Kidnapped Philippine TV reporters freed
Militants in the southern Philippines have freed a well-known television anchorwoman, her cameraman and a university professor after holding them as hostages for nine days to demand a ransom, police said Wednesday.
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Japanese navy destroyer to visit China
A Japanese navy destroyer will make a five-day port call to China starting from June 24. The stop is a return visit after a Chinese navy missile destroyer went to Japan last year, the Chinese Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
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China, US to sign 10-year energy, environmental pact
China and the United States will sign a 10-year cooperation agreement on energy and environmental issues during the fourth round of the Sino-US Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED), Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular press conference Tuesday.
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12 police killed in Sri Lanka explosion
At least 12 police personnel were killed and over 20 injured in a suicide bomb attack launched by Tamil Tiger rebels in the northern Sri Lankan town of Vavuniya Monday morning, defense officials said.
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US urged to help reach peace deal
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed hope on Sunday that the United States would help push Israelis towards striking a permanent peace agreement with Palestinians before the end of 2008.
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Iraq-US pact talks in deadlock, but not dead
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki's harsh words on "deadlock" over Iraq-US pact talks may not prevent Baghdad and Washington from hammering out a long-term relationship pact, analysts said Saturday.
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Rice in Israel to advance Mideast peace process
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived at Israel Saturday night to give another push for the sluggish peace process between the Jewish state and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).
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 US high court backs Gitmo detainees
US Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that foreign terrorism prisoners held in US Navy base in Guantanamo, Cuba, can challenge their detention in US civilian courts.
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Bhutan: Democracy wins over Monarchy
The Bhutan House of Representatives, one of China's neighboring countries, lies at the southern foot of Himalayas. Bhutan recently held an election that converted the country's 100 year monarchy into a Parliamentarian system.
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China to promote healthy, stable ties with Germany
China attaches importance to relations with Germany and is willing to work with the country to promote bilateral ties to develop in a healthy and stable way, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said Thursday.
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Poll: More women support Obama
US presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama picked up more support from women voters soon after his decisive win in the presidential nomination race, according to a poll released on Wednesday.
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China, EU pledge to deepen ties
China and the European Union (EU) should promote cooperation and deepen ties in a globalized world, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Wednesday.
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S. Korea cabinet offers resignation
The entire South Korean cabinet Tuesday offered its resignation to President Lee Myung-Bak over US beef dispute, Yonhap news agency reported.
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20 killed in Algerian bus station blast
Twenty people were killed in a bomb blast at a bus station in a town east of the capital of Algiers on Monday, the pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV channel reported.
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China warns against US protectionism
The slack economy of the United States has led to a rising sentiment of trade protectionism, which may pose a threat to the multilateral trading system, the Chinese ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) warned on Monday.
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 Al-Maliki reassures Tehran over pact with US
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Monday wrapped up his three-day visit to Iran in which he sought to expand ties between the two countries and reassure Tehran over Baghdad's planned security pact with Washington.
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Accused 9/11 mastermind welcomes death penalty
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the reputed mastermind of the September 11 attacks, told a military judge at his arraignment Thursday that he welcomes the death penalty as a way to martyrdom and ridiculed the proceedings as an "inquisition".
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 Top US Air Force leaders ousted
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates ousted the Air Force's top military and civilian leaders Thursday, holding them to account in a historic Pentagon shake-up after embarrassing nuclear mix-ups.
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Al-Qaida claims attack on Danish embassy
Al-Qaida said on Wednesday it was behind a suicide attack on Denmark's embassy in Pakistan which it mounted in revenge for the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad.
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Alleged 9/11 plotters face military tribunal
Almost seven years after terrorists hijacked airliners and used them as missiles to kill 2,973 people, five men who allegedly plotted the attacks face a military tribunal Thursday.
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 Obama starts to pick veep
Barack Obama turned in earnest to the general election and the hunt for a running mate Wednesday, embraced by US Democratic leaders who signaled forcefully and sometimes impatiently to Hillary Rodham Clinton that her marathon duel with Obama was over. Clinton kept her silence in public, while supporters made a case for her as Obama's No. 2.
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Strong quake hits eastern Indonesia
An earthquake with magnitude of 6.0 rocked eastern parts of Indonesia on Wednesday morning, the country's meteorology agency said in Jakarta.
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 Obama wins nomination, makes history
US senator Barack Obama clinched the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday night, but his rival, senator Hillary Clinton, hasn't made a decision about the future of her campaign.
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Iran blames West for food crisis
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday blamed the West for the soaring food prices, while attacking the US policy in the Middle East.
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UN seeks to tackle global food crisis
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon mapped out a twin-track strategy to tackle soaring food prices as world leaders opened a three-day summit in Rome on Tuesday in a global response to the food crisis.
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Bomb targets Danish Embassy, 6 killed
A car bomb exploded outside the Danish Embassy in Islamabad on Monday, killing six people and wounding dozens weeks after al-Qaida issued threats against Denmark over the reprinting of a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad.
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Olmert, Abbas meet on peace talks
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met in Jerusalem on Monday afternoon, the top official will focus on the usual topics of the ongoing peace talks
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Bill Clinton hints at end to wife's campaign
Former US president Bill Clinton dropped a hint Monday that the end might be nigh for his wife Hillary's dogged campaign for the Democratic White House nomination, according to reports.
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 Rising food, fuel prices to top G8 summit agenda
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Monday he and his Japanese counterpart Yasuo Fukuda had agreed to deal with rising food and fuel prices at the upcoming G8 summit in Japan next month.
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World faces soaring food prices
World leaders are poised to gather in Romeon Tuesday for a three-day summit, seeking ways of tackling soaring food prices and helping millions of people in the fight against hunger.
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 Clinton wins Puerto Rico primary
Hillary Rodham Clinton won a lopsided, but largely symbolic victory Sunday in Puerto Rico's presidential primary, the final act in a weekend of tumult that pushed Barack Obama tantalizingly close to the US Democratic presidential nomination.
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Japan's quake relief offers require further consultation
The offer by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to dispatch military airplanes to transport relief supplies to China to help in the earthquake relief requires further consultation between the defence ministries of the two countries, China's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday afternoon.
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 World recognizes Iraq's progress
The international community concluded on Thursday a conference on Iraq with a declaration that hailed progress in the country five years after the US-led invasion in 2003.
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Relevant sides urged to promote six-party talks
China hopes concerned parties would keep active contacts, promote the six-party talks process and endeavor for the goal of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday afternoon.
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15 rebels killed by Sri Lankan troops
The Sri Lankan military said Thursday that at least 15 rebels were killed and three dinghies of Tamil Tiger rebels were destroyed in a combined operation of the Army and the Navy in the northern Jaffna peninsula early morning.
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Olmert vows not to step down
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday evening that he will continue to function as Prime Minister and will not step down despite ongoing bribery investigation against him.
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 Nepal declared republic, monarchy abolished
The first meeting of Constituent Assembly that sat late at Wednesday night, at the International Conference Center (ICC) of capital Kathmandu has declared Nepal a federal democratic republic.
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UK slammed for inviting Dalai to parliament hearing
The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, condemned the British House of Commons Wednesday for holding a hearing on the so-called China's human rights issue and inviting the Dalai Lama to speak at the hearing.
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Key witness gives testimony in Israeli PM's bribery case
American-Jewish businessman Morris Talansky told the Jerusalem District Court Tuesday that he gave Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert 150,000 dollars out of his own pocket, speculating that some of the money went to fund Olmert's fondness for fine hotels, first-class flights and luxury goods.
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NASA says Phoenix lander's arm delayed to move
US Phoenix lander's arm movement and other activities scheduled on its second day on Mars are delayed because NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter flying over mars failed to relay commands from the Earth, the US space agency reported Tuesday.
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German N24 TV publishes merged photo on its website
In the latter part of April, the German N24 TV channel published on its website a piece of news titled "Propaganda Battle– China Begins to Ideologically Remold Tibet". A photo depicting Chinese police and lamas together was embedded in the news story with a caption stating: "Chinese policemen are watching Tibetan lamas conducting rituals in Beijing". The Associated Press was identified as the source of the photo.
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Phoenix sends pictures from Mars
In the most ambitious mission to date to find life-sustaining minerals on the Red Planet, NASA's Phoenix Mars probe sent back never-before-seen pictures of Mars' north pole Monday, media reported Tuesday.
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Xenophobic violence under control
Xenophobic violence against foreign nationals has been brought under control, South Africa's Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said on Monday.
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Mars Phoenix Lander makes successful landing
After traveling for almost 10 months, Mars Phoenix Lander successfully landed on the Red Planet on Sunday on a mission to explore signs of life, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
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Buffett sees 'long, deep' US recession
The United States is already in a recession and it will be longer as well as deeper than many people expect, US investor Warren Buffett said in an interview published in German magazine Der Spiegel on Saturday.
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Clinton looks past assassination comments
Hillary Clinton's campaign prepared for its next big test as it tried on Sunday to move away from her controversial remarks about the assassination of Robert Kennedy 40 years ago.
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FM joins ASEAN-UN pledging conference in Myanmar
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi attended an ASEAN-UN international pledging conference in Myanmar's biggest city of Yangon Sunday, conveying China's deepest sympathy to the people of Myanmar hard hit by a cyclone storm early this month.
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 Lebanon elects president after months of turmoil
Lebanon's new president Michel Sleiman appealed for unity after his election on Sunday, a move hailed as the start of a new era after a bitter political feud threatened to plunge the nation into civil war.
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US: N Korea to submit nuclear program
North Korea is very much close to submit its nuclear program, an unidentified senior U.S. official was quoted by the Associate Press as reporting Friday.
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Myanmar agrees to accept all foreign aid workers
The Myanmar government has agreed to accept all countries' aid workers regardless of nationalities to come to Myanmar and help carrying out relief and resettlement work, diplomatic sources quoted United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as saying Friday.
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Myanmar top leader meets UN Chief
Myanmar top leader Senior-General Than Shwe met on Friday morning with visiting Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon in Nay Pyi Taw, official sources said.
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UN chief tours two cyclone-hit areas in Myanmar
Visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon toured two cyclone-hard-hit areas in southwestern Ayeyawaddy division's delta region Thursday, following his arrival in Yangon earlier on the day, the State TV reported in a night broadcast.
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McCain weighs up potential running mates
US Republican presidential candidate John McCain is disclosing his list of potential running mates, by inviting them to a party at his ranch this weekend in Arizona, the New York Times reported Thursday.
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 France hit by national strike
Tens of thousands of French workers took to the streets on Thursday as unions mounted a one-day show of force against President Nicolas Sarkozy's government over pension reforms.
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China, Russia to hash out 3-year plan
China is one of Russia's most important partners in the world arena, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in a recent interview with major Chinese media in Moscow.
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Obama faults McCain; Clinton mulls delegate fight
Barack Obama criticized likely general election rival John McCain on Wednesday where it could hurt most — the Arizona senator's reputation as a champion of ethics. Hillary Rodham Clinton, meanwhile, raised the possibility she might carry her fight to the Democratic convention floor.
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China welcomes help from foreign militaries
China appreciates all foreign aid sent to earthquake-hit areas of Sichuan province and will respond positively to relief offers from foreign militaries, the defense ministry's spokesman said on Wednesday.
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Nanjing Massacre victim to be compensated for slander
The Tokyo High Court upheld the judgement of the district court Wednesday, ruling that the Japanese author and the publisher of a book on the Nanjing Massacre to pay a total of 4 million yen (US$38,800) in compensation to Xia Shuqin, the Chinese plaintiff, for libel.
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Iran: No precondition on major powers' proposal
Iran will not accept any precondition for the talks on the recent proposal by major world powers on the nuclear issue, the official IRIB TV quoted Iranian foreign ministry source as saying on Monday.
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Israel in direct negotiation with Hamas
Israeli Vice Premier Haim Ramon said Monday that the Jewish state is holding talks directly with the Palestinian movement Hamas, despite a government decision forbidding such moves.
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Myanmar: 3-day mourning for cyclone victims
Myanmar designated on Monday three days of mourning for cyclone disaster starting from Tuesday to Thursday, according to an announcement of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) aired by the state radio in the evening.
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 Ambassadors express support, sympathy
The Foreign Ministry on Monday opened a book of condolences for foreign diplomats to express their sympathies for the victims of the Sichuan earthquake. It will remain open for three days, until the conclusion of the national mourning.
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Bush ends two-day visit to Egypt
US President George Bush on Sunday left the Egyptian Red Sea resort Sharm el-Sheikh and headed back to Washington, ending his two-day visit to Egypt and five-day tour to the region with remarks to convince Arab sceptics on peace push.
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Bin Laden to issue strong message to Muslims
The al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden will soon issue a "very strong" message to Muslims all over the world, an Islamic website said on Sunday, two days after an audio message posted on the Internet showed he has vowed to keep fighting against Israel and its Western allies.
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 Bush confident on Mideast peace deal
Visiting US President George W. Bush on Saturday expressed his confidence on the objective to achieve a Middle East peace deal before his term ends in January amid growing skepticism in the Arab world.
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Bin Laden: keep fighting against Israel
The leader of al-Qaida Osama bin Laden has vowed to keep fighting against the Jewish state and its Western allies on the occasion of Israel's 60th anniversary in an audio released on an Islamist website Friday.
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US to provide aid to N Korea
The United States announced Friday that it will send 500,000 tons of food aid to North Korea, beginning in June.
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Myanmar cyclone death toll rises to 77,738
The death toll from Cyclone Nargis has risen sharply to 77,738 in Myanmar, the state television reported in a night broadcast Friday, a fortnight after the disaster hit the country.
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Japanese rescuers arrive in Chengdu
A group of rescue professionals sent by the Japanese government arrived in Chengdu, capital of quake-ravaged southwest China's Sichuan Province, early Friday to assist the rescue work.
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Bush pledges unbreakable bond with Israel
Visiting U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday reiterated an "unbreakable" relationship with Israel, vowing to stand by the Jewish state's side against its enemies.
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 Nigeria pipeline blast kills at least 100
At least 100 people were killed and scores injured when fuel from a pipeline ruptured by a bulldozer caught fire and exploded on Thursday in a village near Nigeria's biggest city of Lagos, the Red Cross said.
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Chinese, Russian FMs meet on quake disaster relief
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov held talks in Yekaterinburg on Wednesday on such topics as China's disaster relief in quake-hit areas, Olympics and bilateral relations.
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John Edwards to endorse Obama
Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards has decided to endorse Barack Obama as the party's nominee, said a TV report on Wednesday.
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Myanmar survivors brace for second cyclone
The first international aid official permitted into Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta described towns rendered unrecognizable, and thousands of survivors without shelter while the Joint Typhoon Warning center said Wednesday another cyclone was forming in the region.
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 At least 60 killed by serial blasts in India
At least 60 people were killed and 150 others injured by eight blasts in Jaipur, the capital city of Indian state of Rajasthan Tuesday evening, the Press Trust of India reported.
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Chinese, US presidents talk on quake, ties, Tibet
Chinese President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart George W. Bush held a telephone conversation Tuesday, during which they discussed the latest massive earthquake in southwest China, bilateral ties and Tibet.
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Clinton wins W.Va., Obama still nomination leader
Hillary Rodham Clinton coasted to a large, but largely symbolic victory in working-class West Virginia on Tuesday, handing Barack Obama one of his worst defeats of the campaign but scarcely slowing his march toward the Democratic presidential nomination.
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Police raid city hall in Olmert probe
Israeli police searched the Jerusalem Municipality on Monday and confiscated documents related to the new investigation against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported on its website.
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Poll: Clinton leads in West Virginia
US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton still retains advantage in the coming primaries in West Virginia and Kentucky despite calls on her to drop the race, according to a poll released on Monday.
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Myanmar cyclone death toll rise to 31,938
The death toll of Myanmar's cyclone disaster kept rising with 3,480 more people killed, bringing the total to 31,938, according to a news report of the state radio Monday evening.
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 Putin reshuffles Russian government
Russia's new Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Monday reshuffled the Russian government which will include seven deputy prime ministers and two first deputy prime ministers.
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Lebanese people fear renewed civil war
The fear of renewed civil war appears on the faces of Lebanese common people in the wake of fierce clashes between pro and anti-government forces killed dozens of people in recent days.
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Sudan severs diplomatic ties with Chad
Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir announced on Sunday a decision to sever diplomatic ties with Chad, holding Chad responsible for an attack launched by Darfur rebels on the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Saturday.
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Putin officially becomes Russian PM
Russia's new President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree Thursday to appoint Vladimir Putin as prime minister, hours after Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, approved Putin's nomination.
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 Top al-Qaida leader in Iraq captured
Iraqi security forces captured Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, head of al-Qaida in Iraq network, in northern Iraqi city Mosul, Iraqi official television reported on Thursday.
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3 Chinese workers kidnapped in south Nigeria
Three Chinese workers were abducted by unidentified kidnappers on Tuesday in Calabar, the capital city of Nigeria's southern Cross River State, company sources told Xinhua on Thursday.
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Chinese relief materials arrive in Myanmar
The first batch of relief materials offered by China to the cyclone-hit Myanmar arrived in its capital Rangoon Wednesday afternoon, sources with Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
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 China, Japan sign joint statement
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda signed Wednesday a six-point Sino-Japanese joint statement on all-round promotion of their strategic and mutually beneficial relations.
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 Nearly 23,000 killed in Myanmar cyclone
China's relief materials worth US$500,000 arrived at Yangon International Airport and were delivered to Myanmar May 7, as part of China's US$1 million worth of emergency relief aid to the cyclone-devastated country. Nearly 23,000 people were killed and 42,119 are still missing in the violent cyclone.
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Obama wins North Carolina primary
As polls closed in the Democratic presidential primary in North Caorlina Tuesday, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois was projected by U.S. media as the winner.
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China offers US$1 mln worth of aid to Myanmar
China is sending US$1 million worth of aid to cyclone-devastated Myanmar, the Ministry of Commerce announced on Tuesday. Foreign Ministry pokesman Qin Gang told a regular press conference that China will closely follow the disaster relief work in Myanmar and provide assistance.
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 Hu dines on memories, friendship
Before their formal meeting on Wednesday, and a banquet at Fukuda's house tomorrow, the Japanese leader played host to the Chinese president at a venue where his father Takeo Fukuda, Japan's prime minister from 1976 to 1978, got married.
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Hu leaves for state visit to Japan
At the invitation of the Japanese government, Chinese President Hu Jintao left Beijing on Tuesday morning for a state visit to Japan from May 6 to 10.
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Poll: Clinton leads Obama nationwide
A new USA Today/Gallup poll out Monday found U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton of New York leads her rival Senator Barack Obama of Illinois by 7 percent nationwide ahead of Tuesday's two key Democratic presidential primaries.
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 15,000 killed in violent cyclone in Myanmar
At least 15,000 people have been killed in two divisions of Yangon and Ayeyawaddy in a violent cyclone storm Nargis that swept Myanmar's five divisions and states on last Friday and Saturday, according to official sources Monday evening.
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 Iraqi PM renews vow to disband militias
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki confirmed on Wednesday his vow to disband all the armed groups, including Shiite Mahdi Army militia, whom he accused of using civilians as "human shields" in fightings in Sadr City.
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Thai House Speaker resigns
Thailand's President of Parliament and House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat announced his resignation at a press conference in Bangkok on Wednesday afternoon.
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10 US diplomats to leave Belarus
US charge d'affaires in Belarus Jonathan Moore said Wednesday that 10 US diplomats will leave the former Soviet republic within 72 hours under the requests of Belarus' authorities, news agencies reported.
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US Fed cuts key interest rate to 2%
The U.S. Federal Reserve decided on Wednesday to cut a key interest rate by one quarter percentage point to 2.0 percent to prevent the economy from slipping into recession.
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White House admits fault on 'Mission Accomplished' banner
The White House said Wednesday that President Bush has paid a price for the "Mission Accomplished" banner that was flown in triumph five years ago but later became a symbol of US misjudgments and mistakes in the long and costly war in Iraq.
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EU, Serbia sign key pre-accession accord
The European Union (EU) signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia on Tuesday, which is a first step toward eventual EU membership for Western Balkan countries.
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Iraq opens trial on former regime officials
Iraqi High Tribunal opened trial Tuesday on Saddam's former Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz and his seven codefendants over their alleged roles in the execution of 42 merchants in 1992.
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 UN and World Bank to tackle food crisis
UN agencies and the World Bank pledged on Tuesday to set up a task force to tackle an unprecedented rise in global food prices that is threatening to spread social unrest.
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President Hu to visit Japan in early May
Chinese President Hu Jintao will pay a state visit to Japan from May 6 to 10, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu announced Tuesday at a regular press conference.
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5 Chinese kidnapped in Indonesia
The Chinese Embassy in Indonesia confirmed Tuesday that five Chinese citizens who worked for a mining firm in Aceh province had been kidnapped by gunmen over the weekend and remained hostages.
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Ukraine, Russia ready for long-term gas contracts
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and her Russian counterpart Viktor Zubkov on Monday expressed the two countries' readiness to sign long-term gas contracts and pledged to enhance bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
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Haitian president names Ericq Pierre as PM
Haitian President Rene Preval Sunday appointed Ericq Pierre, a senior adviser with the Washington-based Inter-American Development Bank, as the country's prime minister, according to news reaching Mexico City from Port-Au-Prince.
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 Karzai escapes deadly parade attack
The death toll in the gunfire and explosions which rocked a celebration gathering in Kabul marking the 16th anniversary of Afghan nation Sunday morning rose to four, officials and TV reports said.
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Israel dismisses Hamas truce offer
Israel dismissed on Friday a proposal by Hamas to call a conditional six-month truce in the Gaza Strip, calling it a ruse aimed at allowing the Palestinian Islamist group to recover from recent fighting.
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Hamas accepts ceasefire in Gaza
Palestinian faction Hamas on Thursday agreed to a ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip first, the Egyptian MENA news agency reported.
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Gunmen kidnap 6 in northeast of Baghdad
Gunmen abducted Sunday morning five university students and their driver near the city of Baquba, the capital of Diyala province, a provincial police source said.
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Iraq's Sadr threatens 'open war'
Iraq's radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said on Saturday that he would give the government one more chance to take "path of peace," threatening to declare war if the government continues cracking down on his Mahdi Army militia.
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Al-Qaida: US war on Iraq 'failure and defeat'
Al-Qaida's No. 2 leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, has said that five years of US occupation of Iraq had brought only "failure and defeat", according to a new audio tape released Thursday on a website known for militant messages.
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LVMH: We respect China's sovereignty
LVMH, one of the shareholders of French retailer Carrefour, yesterday denied accusations by Chinese Internet users that it offered funds to the Dalai Lama.
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 Chinese, Japanese FMs hold talks in Tokyo
Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura on Thursday held talks with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on bilateral relations and preparations and arrangements for Chinese President Hu Jintao's upcoming state visit to Japan.
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China, UK conclude first economic, financial dialogue
China and the United Kingdom (UK) convened their first-ever economic and financial dialogue in Beijing on Tuesday, in which they reached consensus on facilitating bilateral investment and cementing joint efforts to solve international problems including climate change.
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 Plane crash in Congo kills 83
A plane crashed Tuesday shortly after taking off from the Goma airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing 83 passengers and crew on board, a foreign ministry spokesman said.
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Iraq dismisses 1,300 security members
The Iraqi government decided to dismiss more than 1,300 soldiers and policemen because they refused to fight Shiite militiamen during recent clashes in southern Iraqi cities, a security source said on Sunday.
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Over 20 Taliban insurgents killed in S. Afghanistan
Afghan and international troops on Friday launched a joint military operation in southern Afghan province of Zabul leaving at least 24 Taliban insurgents dead and eight others injured, said an official on Saturday. Gulab Shah Alikhil, the deputy governor of Zabul province told Xinhua that the combined troops carried out an clean up operation in Sarkhagan area, outskirt of the Qalat district, where they engaged with Taliban militants then called in air support.
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Bush suspends troop withdrawal
U.S. President George W. Bush suspended on Thursday further U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq beyond July and cut Army combat troops in Iraq from 15 months to 12 months.
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Top al-Qaida planner may have died
Al-Qaida's chief operational planner is believed to have died late last year in a remote part of Pakistan after contracting a fatal illness, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.
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Iran tests new advanced centrifuge
Iran announced new "achievements" in its nuclear program on Tuesday as the United States warned that Tehran will face further international sanctions over its disputed nuclear work.
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Six nations to renew talks on Iran's nuclear issue: US
Officials from the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany are due to meet later this month in a bid to renew their efforts to make Iran halt its sensitive nuclear work, the State Department said on Monday.
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 Olmert, Abbas envisage peace deal in 2008
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday resumed peace talks and pledged to reach a peace agreement within the current year.
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 Putin, Bush differ in farewell talks
Russia's outgoing President Vladimir Putin hosted his US counterpart George W. Bush on Sunday in his presidential residence in this Black Sea resort.
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Russia, NATO fail to overcome gaps
Russia and NATO failed to make headway in overcoming gaps on thorny issues at their first ever Council Summit on Friday, despite a transit deal was forged.
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 Bangkok Climate Change Talks end
Bangkok Climate Change Talks ended after midnight Friday after delegates agreed on a work plan for future negotiations which aim to yield a new pact on global cooperation in combating climate change after 2012.
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Hu to attend Boao Forum for Asia
President Hu Jintao will attend the opening ceremony of the annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) on April 12 and deliver a keynote speech, a senior Foreign Ministry official said on Thursday at a press briefing.
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Zimbabwe's ruling party loses parliament
Zimbabwe's ZANU-PF lost its ruling party's status in the lower house election, receiving 97 seats, against the 99 seats by the rival MDC Tsvangirai faction, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced just after midnight Wednesday.
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Obama suggests cabinet post for Gore
US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama suggested on Wednesday that he would consider offering former Vice President Al Gore a cabinet-level post should he be elected president.
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Bernanke hints possible recession
U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke warned Wednesday that the U.S. economy may shrink over the first half of this year, hinting that a recession may be underway.
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Six killed in train-truck collision in Thailand
Two men and four women were killed and a girl was severely injured when an oil tanker train crashed into a pick-up truck at a train crossing in Thailand's eastern province of Rayong Wednesday afternoon.
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 China, US hold talks on bilateral economic ties
Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan began talks with US Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson in Beijing on Wednesday morning on advancing the process of the China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) and bilateral economic ties.
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Paulson starts two-day China visit
Henry M. Paulson, special representative of US President George W. Bush and the US Treasury Secretary, arrived in Beijing on Wednesday to start his two-day China trip for preparation for the fourth round of China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED).
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12 rebels killed in northern Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan military said that 12 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed by government troops on Tuesday as clashes between the two sides continued in the north.
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China, US to advance economic ties
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu on Tuesday expressed the hope that China and the United States would make in-depth discussion on related strategic issues, so as to push for the healthy growth of bilateral economic ties.
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Zimbabwe's rival parties tied in preliminary results of polls
Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF has received 31 seats in the House of Assembly, followed by the opposition Movement of Democratic Change (MDC) Morgan Tsvangirai faction with 30 seats, according to results of elections for members of the House of Assembly having been announced so far.
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Talks on US radar completed: Czech PM
The Czech and US representatives have completed their talks on the planned U.S. radar base on the Czech soil that were launched a year ago, Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said on Monday.
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 Chinese president meets UAE vice president
The Chinese government has an unswerving policy to push for the stable growth of friendly and cooperative relations between China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said President Hu Jintao in Beijing on Monday.
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10,000 Afghan refugees return home from Pakistan
About 10,000 Afghan refugees have returned home with the support of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) since resuming voluntary repatriation over the past one month, the body's country representative Salvatore Lombardo said Monday.
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 Sadr offers truce to ease Iraqi crisis
Powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Sunday asked his followers to put weapons aside after days of fierce clashes have pushed the nation to the brink of even larger bloodshed.
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EU meeting on Tibet opposed
China on Sunday voiced its "strong dissatisfaction" over the EU foreign ministers' discussion of and comments on the Tibet issue during their meeting in Slovenia.
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North Korea denies uranium enrichment
North Korea on Friday categorically denied it had ever carried out uranium enrichment nor had it proliferated nuclear facilities to other countries.
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Taliban-led insurgency leaves 3 dozen dead
Taliban-related insurgency has claimed the lives of 14 people, mostly civilians, in a single day Wednesday in southern Afghanistan, commonly known as the hotbed of Taliban.
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 Clashes continue in Iraq
Clashes between Shiite militia and security troops remain hot across Iraq on Wednesday, while Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki issued a 72-hour ultimatum for gunmen to surrender weapon.
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Int'l media delegation departs for Tibet
An international media delegation left Beijing for southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Wednesday morning following an unrest in the regional capital Lhasa.
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5 hurt, 1 killed in US crane accident
At least 5 people were injured and another died after a portion of a high-rise crane fell through the roof of an adjacent home Tuesday in Miami, Florida, police said.
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Lebanon to boycott Damascus summit
The Lebanese cabinet officially decided Tuesday to boycott the upcoming 20th Arab summit to be held in Damascus on March 29-30, local LBC TV reported.
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 Heavy fighting erupts in southern Iraq
Heavy fighting broke out between Iraqi security forces and the Mahdi Army Shiite militia in Iraq's southern city of Basra on Tuesday, a local security source and witnesses said.
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US shuttle Endeavour leaves space station for home
US space shuttle Endeavour on Monday undocked from the international space station and headed for home, ending an "extraordinary mission" marked by a record five successful spacewalks, media reported.
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US death toll in Iraq hits 4,000
A roadside bomb killed four US soldiers in southern Baghdad Sunday, the military said, raising the overall American death toll to 4,000 since the start of the Iraq War five years ago.
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 Attacks kill 32 in Iraq
A new wave of attacks across Iraq on Sunday killed at least 32 people and wounded more than 70, while insurgents fired barrages of rockets on the US-protected Green Zone area in Baghdad.
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Lhasa riot reports show media bias in West
Chinese netizens, including students studying overseas, have been angered by biased and sometimes dishonest reports about the recent riots in Tibet by some Western media.
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Belgian new government sworn in
Nine months after the general elections, Belgium's new government was finally sworn-in Thursday with Flemish Christian Democrat Yves Leterme appointed as the country's new Prime Minister.
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17 rebels killed in Sri Lanka fighting
At least 17 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels have been killed in separate confrontations in the island's north throughout Thursday, defense officials in Colombo said Friday.
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US opposed Taiwan referendum
The United States is opposed to Taiwan authorities' attempt to hold a referendum on joining the United Nations, US State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said Wednesday.
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Principle on dialogue with Dalai Lama unchanged
China said the principle for the central government to conduct dialogue with Dalai Lama has not changed, which is that Dalai Lama must give up his stance for 'Tibet independence' and completely stop activities to separate China.
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Western tourists recount riots in Lhasa
Four Western tourists who visited Tibet and witnessed the recent riots in Tibet recounted the ferocity in a story carried by the British daily The Times on Wednesday.
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Wen talks with Brown via phone
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his British counterpart Gordon Brown talked over the phone on Wednesday, with both sides pledging to boost bilateral ties.
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 Protests mark Iraq anniversary
Police arrested more than a dozen people who crossed a barricade and blocked entrances at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) building in Washington yesterday, at the start of a day of protests marking the fifth anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq.
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Bush says Iraq war was worth it
President Bush says he has no doubts about launching the unpopular war in Iraq despite the "high cost in lives and treasure", arguing that retreat now would embolden Iran and provide al-Qaida with money for weapons of mass destruction to attack the United States.
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NATO air strikes leave 50 dead in S. Afghanistan
NATO's air raids against Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province claimed the lives of 50 persons including 18 rebels, a parliamentarian from the restive province said Tuesday.
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 Russia-US talks on missile shield see no breakthrough
"The United States reaffirmed its willingness to set up its third missile shield in Europe ... Russia, however, does not agree with this intention and has put forward an alternative that was originally put forward by President Vladimir Putin," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a press conference after the one-day talks.
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FM: Tibet taking legal measures on Lhasa incident
Relevant departments in Tibet Autonomous Region were taking legal measures to deal with the recent riot in Lhasa, the regional capital, and the current situation there had returned to normal, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a regular press conferencehere on Tuesday.
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Suicide bomb kills 43 in Karbala
The death toll from a suicide bombing in Iraq's Shiite holy city of Karbala on Monday rose to 35, with 55 others wounded, an interior ministry source said.
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Chinese FM: Respect fact on Lhasa riot
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao on Monday urged relevant countries to respect fact and distinguish right and wrong on the riot occurred in Lhasa.
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EU opposes boycott of Beijing Olympics
The European Union's sports ministers and chairs of national Olympics committees said on Monday they strongly oppose a boycott of the Beijing Olympics.
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At least 4 dead in NY crane collapse
A construction crane snapped Saturday from a 25-story building in Manhattan, killing at least four people and injuring many others, New York City authorities said.
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 At least 9 killed in Albanian blasts
At least nine people were killed in the chain explosions of an Albanian ammunition dump near the capital Tirana, Prime Minister Sali Berisha said Sunday.
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 232 arrested after blast in Pakistani capital
The Islamabad police have rounded up as many as 232 people, most of them students of religious seminaries, following the bomb explosion at an Italian restaurant in Islamabad, a senior police officer said Sunday.
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At least 20 killed in Pakistan missile attack
A missile fired from an unidentified location struck the house of a tribal elder in Pakistan's South Waziristan bordering Afghanistan, killing at least 20 and injuring five others, according to the official APP news agency.
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US, North Korea nuclear envoys begin talks
Chief nuclear negotiators of the United States and North Korea began talks in Geneva on Thursday with the aim of breaking the impasse over the Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue.
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FM: Recent Tibetan monks' rally a deliberate plot
China on Thursday said the recent successive trouble by some monks in Lhasa was a deliberate political plot of the Dalai Lama group to cause social unrest, separate Tibet from China, and wreck the stable, harmonious and normal life of the Tibetan people.
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41 Taliban rebels killed in Afghanistan
Afghan and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) ambushed and killed 41 Taliban insurgents in southwest Afghan province of Nimroz on Tuesday, said an official on Thursday.
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Fingers of 5 hostages delivered to US officials
US authorities in Baghdad have received five severed fingers belonging to four Americans and an Austrian who were taken hostage more than a year ago in Iraq , US officials said Wednesday.
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Fallon resignation doesn't signal Iran war
The US government has ruled out suggestion that resignation of William Fallon, chief of US forces in the Middle East and Central Asia, signaled a possible war with Iran.
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Defense program no threat to others
The modernization of China's armed forces is neither targeted at nor capable of altering East Asia's strategic balance, Chinese experts said yesterday.
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3 die, 277 injured in massive UAE wreck
Three people were killed and 277 injured in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday when dozens of cars and buses collided in thick fog in what could be the country's biggest traffic accident, police said.
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NY governor on verge of resigning
Governor Eliot Spitzer of New York State is reportedly resigning in the aftermath of disclosure that he was a repeated client of a high-priced prostitution ring.
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FARC not to release key hostages
Colombia's rebel group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has no intention of freeing its top hostages, a guerrilla that defected from the group told local radio Monday.
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Israeli PM: No ceasefire reached with Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday denied a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, as reported in media, even though both Qassam fire from Hamas and strikes from Israeli army have subsided recently.
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LatAm leaders agree to end border crisis
The presidents of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela agreed Friday to resolve their angry recriminations over a cross-border Colombian commando raid, a crisis that has brought troop movements and talk of war.
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'Single voice needed' on Darfur issue
The international community should not overestimate China's influence over the Darfur issue, but pursue a holistic approach to resolving the problem, the country's special representative to Darfur said on Friday.
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Bombs kill more than 50 in Baghdad
Two bombs went off within minutes of each other in a crowded shopping district in the capital Thursday, killing at least 53 people and wounding 130 – a reminder that deadly attacks are a daily threat even though violence is down.
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Suicide car bomb kills 4 policemen in Mosul
A suicide car bomb attack targeted a police station on Friday morning in the city of Mosul, the capital of the northern Nineveh province, killing 4 policemen and wounding 17 people, a provincial police source said.
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Australian FM pleased with safe release of hostages
Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said in Canberra on Wednesday he was pleased the hostage crisis involving Australian tourists in Xi'an of China was resolved so quickly and the hostages were safe.
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FARC to release hostages in Ecuador
The rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has agreed to release at least 12 hostages in Ecuador in early March, Ecuadoran Internal and Foreign Security Minister Gustavo Larrea said Thursday.
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Nicaragua breaks off with Colombia
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega announced on Thursday the severance of diplomatic relations with the Colombian government after a brief meeting with his Ecuadorian counterpart Rafael Correa who arrived in the Central American country on Thursday.
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UNSC to hold urgent meeting on Middle East
The UN Security Council is to hold urgent consultations on the Middle East Thursday night in the wake of the Jerusalem attack which killed eight people, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe said.
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 Bush endorses McCain
US President George W. Bush endorsed John McCain on Wednesday as the Republican presidential nominee after he garnered more than 1,191 delegates required for a nominee the previous day.
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Venezuela mobilizes forces to border
The Venezuelan government decreed on Wednesday state of general alert, completing 90 percent deployment of its military force in zones bordering with Colombia.
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Clinton wins Ohio, Texas
US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton was projected to win the Ohio and Rhode Island primaries on Tuesday, pulling her campaign back from the dead end.
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China strongly opposes Canada's anti-dumping duties
China strongly opposed Canada's decision to levy anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on seamless carbon or alloy steel oil and well casing pipes from China, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Wednesday.
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10 killed in UN chopper crash in Nepal
10 people were killed in the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) helicopter crash on Monday, Ian Martin, special representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal said on Tuesday.
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Colombia to take Chavez to international courts
Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe said on Tuesday his country plans to launch a case against his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez in the International Courts of Justice for his alleged financing of rebels in Colombia.
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 Will Rice's visit help push forward Mideast peace talks?
As US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday started her latest Mideast regional tour with the aim to salvage the US-sponsored peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians, Arab experts and media in Cairo didn't hold high expectations on her visit to achieve tangible results to push forward the stalled Mideast peace process.
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Ecuador breaks off ties with Colombia
Ecuador broke off diplomatic relations on Monday with Colombia due to the diplomatic conflict between the two nations, Ecuadorian president's office said in a statement.
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Israeli army pulls out of Gaza
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) withdrew its ground troops from the Gaza Strip early Monday, completing the first stage of the activity dubbed "Operation Hot Winter."
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Car bombing kills 12 in Baghdad
At least 12 people were killed and 46 others injured when a car bomb went off in the central part of the Iraqi capital on Monday, an Interior Ministry source said.
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 Medvedev wins election
Dmitry Medvedev, first deputy prime minister of Russian President Vladimir Putin's cabinet, has won the country's fifth presidential election by a landslide, official figures released on Monday showed.
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Venezuela puts army on high alert
Venezuela's president, Hugo Chavez, on Sunday formally ordered the nation's armed forces to be on high alert, the closure of Venezuela's embassy in Colombia and the mobilization of the nation's armed forces to the Colombia border.
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Kosovo remains Serbian forever
Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has stressed in Bulgaria's capital that Kosovo would remain Serbian forever, local press reported Thursday.
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China hopes US domestic politics won't affect Sino-US ties
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in Beijing on Thursday that China hopes the United States will view Sino-US relations objectively and rationally, and not to bring its domestic political factors into the bilateral relations.
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77 PKK rebels killed in N. Iraq
Turkish Armed Forces announced Wednesday that 77 militants of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) were killed on the 6th day of cross-border ground operation in the north of Iraq.
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Al-Qaida still No.1 threat to US
Al-Qaida led by Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri remains the No. 1 terrorist threat to the United States, the country's top spymaster said Wednesday.
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Strong earthquake hits Japan
An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale hit seas near Bonin Islands, Japan at 3:00 P.M. (0700 GMT) Wednesday, according to a bulletin released by the Hong Kong Observatory.
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Myanmar enacts constitutional referendum law
The Myanmar government on Tuesday enacted a constitutional referendum law and set up a commission for a nationwide constitutional referendum slated for May, according to night broadcast of the state radio and television.
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Serbia to sue countries recognizing Kosovo
Serbia will file lawsuits at the International Court of Justice against the US and all other countries that recognized the false state of Kosovo, the official Tanjug news agency reported on Tuesday.
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 China to provide more aid to Darfur
The Chinese government's special representative for Darfur, Liu Guijin, Monday pledged China will provide more humanitarian assistance to people in Sudan's western region of Darfur.
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Rice starts China visit
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, starting her two-day visit to China as guest of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
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Six major powers meet to discuss Iran nuclear issue
The United States and other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany are expected to adopt new sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear program soon, the US State Department said Monday.
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41 PKK rebels killed in N. Iraq
Turkey's military said on Monday that 41 militants of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) and two Turkish troops were killed in the latest fighting.
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30 killed in northern Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan military said Monday 25 rebels and five soldiers have been killed in confrontations between Tamil Tiger rebels and government troops in the north.
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Rice's visit to China helps promote nuclear talks
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's upcoming visit to China will help push forward the six-party talks as well as the denuclearization process of the Korean Peninsula, said Chinese analysts.
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Pentagon: satellite hit a success
The Department of Defense announced in Washington on Monday that based on debris analysis, officials are confident the missile intercept and destruction of an out-of-control spy satellite, achieved the objective of destroying the toxical fuel tank.
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112 PKK rebels killed in Northern Iraq
Turkey's military General Staff said Sunday that the number of rebels of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) killed during its ground and air offensive in northern Iraq had risen to 112.
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Russia not to use force in Kosovo
Russia will not use force in Kosovo though the situation in the region will continue to escalate following the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo authorities, Russia's permanent representative to NATO Dmitry Rogozin said on Sunday.
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 Raul Castro elected president of Cuba
Cuban army general Raul Castro was elected on Sunday as president of Cuba during a legislative session held at Cuba's Palace of Conventions in the nation's capital Havana.
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US B-2 bomber crashes in Guam
A US B-2 stealth bomber crashed Saturday at an Air Force base in Guam just after taking off, but both its pilots ejected to safety, the US Air Force said.
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 All 46 die in airplane crash in Venezuela
All the 46 people aboard the Santa Barbara Airlines airplane died after the plane crashed on Thursday in Venezuela's Andean region, Venezuela's National Civil Protection Department reported on Friday.
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14 rebels killed in Sri Lankan north
The Sri Lankan military said on Friday 14 rebels were killed in separated confrontations between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels in the north on Thursday.
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 Pakistan's PPP and PML-N to form coalition government
Pakistan's political parties Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will form coalition governments in central and provincial levels, leaders of the two parties said in Islamabad on Thursday night.
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Serbian protesters storm US embassy
The US embassy in Serbia was stormed by protesters on Thursday during a mass rally against the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo, the local B92 TV station reported.
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NATO-led force kill two Taliban leaders
The NATO-led force have killed two Taliban leaders during an operation in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, the military alliance said in a statement issued in Kabul Thursday.
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Lee Myung-bak cleared of fraud
A special prosecutor charged with investigating corruption allegations against South Korean President-elect Lee Myung-bak announced on Thursday that Lee is cleared of all charges.
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US says Cuban embargo to remain
US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said Tuesday that the decades-old US embargo on Cuba will remain in place despite Cuban leader Fidel Castro's resignation.
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 PPP seeks for Pakistani coalition gov't
Co-Chairman of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari said Tuesday contacts were under way with all parties, primarily with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), on the formation of a coalition government.
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 Castro resigns as Cuban president
Cuban leader Fidel Castro on Tuesday resigned as president in a statement published in the online version of the official daily Granma.
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26 Chinese rescued off Philippine coast
Twenty-six Chinese crew members have been rescued from a cargo that is sinking off the northern coast of the Philippines, a Chinese embassy official in Manila said on Monday morning.
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80 killed in Afghan bombing
A bloody suicide bombing shocked Taliban former stronghold Kandahar in south Afghanistan Sunday morning killing at least 80 people and injuring many more, Kandahar's governor Assadullah Khalid said.
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 Kosovo declares independence from Serbia
Kosovo's parliament unanimously approved the province's historic declaration of independence from Serbia on Sunday, a move that is backed by the US and some European allies but bitterly contested by Serbia and Russia.
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Israel issues global terror warning
Israeli Counter Terrorism Bureau issued a worldwide travel advisory on Thursday, warning Israelis against possible abduction attempts abroad in the wake of the assassination of Hezbollah commander Imad Moughniyah.
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At least 5 killed in US university shooting
Five people were killed and a dozen others injured when a young gunman shoot in a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University (NIU) in the Chicago suburb of DeKalb, Illinois, on Thursday, including the gunman who killed himself, local authorities said.
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 Putin holds annual press conference
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday expressed optimism about his country's future development and stood firm on some of the disputes with the West in his annual press conference in the Kremlin.
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Obama scores 1st victory in Potomac Primary
US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama beat opponent Hillary Clinton in the presidential primary in Virginia Tuesday, scoring his first win in the Feb. 12 Potomac Primary.
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US diplomat summoned by Japan over rape case
US Charge d'Affaires in Tokyo Joseph Donovan was summoned on Tuesday by the Japanese Foreign Ministry to discuss the alleged rape of a teen-aged girl in Okinawa by an American Marine, the State Department said.
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 Australia apologizes to aborigines
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced a national apology to the country's indigenous people in Canberra in the parliament on Wednesday morning.
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WB names Chinese economist as vice president
World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick Monday announced the appointment of Justin Lin as the new chief economist and senior vice president for development economics at the World Bank.
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Britain benefits from China's economic growth
"People from UK and other parts of the world are benefiting from the progress of China's economy and the Made-in-China products coming to Birmingham Spring Fair," Mike Whitby, leader of the Birmingham City Council said in Birmingham on Monday.
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Thousands of civilians flee Chad capital
Thousands of civilians fled Chad's capital N'Djamena yesterday after rebel forces pulled back from a two-day assault, but the rebels said they would attack again to try to topple President Idriss Deby.
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Bush unveils $3.1 trillion spending plan
US President George W. Bush sent Congress a 3.1 trillion budget on Monday for the 2009 fiscal year that approached a landmark in military spending and would widen the government's deficit.
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Iran launches first space research center
Iran launched its first home-built space research center on Monday in Tehran in presence of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the official IRNA news agency reported.
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Quakes kill at least 38, wounds hundreds
Earthquakes struck Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) yesterday, killing at least 38 people and seriously injuring up to 550 more, officials said.
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 Tadic wins Serbian presidential run-off
Serbia's incumbent President Boris Tadic won 50.5 percent or some 2.28 million votes in the tightly-contested presidential run-off on Sunday, defeating his rival Tomislav Nikolic, said preliminary results.
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Chinese in Chad moved to safety
Heavy clashes broke out on the second day of the siege of the Chadian capital by rebels Sunday, till when the Chinese embassy had helped evacuate more than 200 Chinese nationals from N'Djamena.
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Chinese terracotta warriors woo big Dutch crowd
Ancient terracotta soldiers from China were more popular than paintings by Dutch masters and other artifacts on their first day on show Saturday in the Drents Museum in northern Netherlands.
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Chad rebels storms Chadian capital
Hundreds of rebels penetrated the capital of Chad on Saturday, clashing with government troops and moving on the presidential palace after a three-day advance through the oil-producing central African nation, officials and witnesses said.
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Chinese compatriots withdraw from Chad
More than 200 Chinese compatriots arrived in Cameroon after being evacuated from Chadian capital N'Djamena, the Chinese embassy in Chad confirmed Friday.
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20 killed in Sri Lanka bomb blast
At least 20 civilians were killed and over 50 injured in a powerful bomb explosion that hit a private bus in Sri Lanka's central province early Saturday morning, the military said the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was behind the blast.
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 Baghdad market blasts kill 72
Bomb blasts ripped through two popular pet markets in Baghdad on Friday, killing 72 people in the deadliest attacks in the city in six months and dealing a bitter blow to Iraqi hopes that security is getting better.
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Istanbul explosion kills 11, wounds 40
Eleven people were killed and 40 others wounded in an explosion in a factory in Turkey's largest city of Istanbul on Thursday, Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said.
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Kim Jong Il meets senior CPC official
Kim Jong Il, the top leader of North Korea, met Pyongyang on Wednesday with Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
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 Edwards quits bid for White House
US Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards announced on Wednesday to quit his bid for the White House, becoming the first major player to drop out of the race.
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US Fed cuts key interest rate to 3.0%
The US Federal Reserve decided Wednesday to cut a key interest rate by an additional half percentage point to 3.0 percent in order to prevent the economy from slipping into recession.
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McCain wins Florida primary
The US Republican presidential primary in Florida ended on Tuesday with Arizona Senator John McCain scoring victory, which left him with a more promising prospect in the full-scale race on "Super Tuesday" next week.
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Strong earthquake rocks Indonesia's Maluku
A strong earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale rocked the eastern Indonesian province of Maluku on Wednesday, Indonesian meteorology and geophysics agency said.
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Venezuelan bank robbers surrender
The four bank robbers were arrested by Venezuelan police on Tuesday after they fled in an ambulance from the site of the crime, and the hostages held in the getaway vehicle were liberated, said the governor of Guarico state, Eduardo Manuit.
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US House passes stimulus plan
The US House overwhelmingly passed a 146 billion US dollar aid package Tuesday that would speed rebates of 600-1,200 dollars to most taxpayers, sending a stimulus package to the Senate with a bipartisan appeal to senators not to slow the bill with significant changes.
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Pakistani militants seize 250 kids
Gunmen who took up to 250 Pakistani school children hostage in a northwestern town yesterday freed them all and surrendered to tribal elders, a government spokesman said.
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China, EU to launch detailed IPR Action Plan
The visiting EU Commissioner responsible for taxation and customs, Laszio Kovacs, reiterated in Beijing on Monday that a concrete Action Plan on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) will be worked out between China and the European Union (EU).
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 Egypt starts to rebuild Gaza border fences
Egyptian security forces on Monday started to rebuild fences at the border between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip, the pan-Arab satellite television al-Jazeera reported.
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39 killed in Sri Lanka fighting
At least 39 combatants from the government troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels have been killed in fighting throughout Sunday, defense officials said on Monday in Colombo.
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PPP leader elected Thailand's new PM
Thailand's newly elected House of Representatives or Lower House on Monday voted People Power Party (PPP) leader Samak Sundaravej as the country's new Prime Minister.
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 Olmert, Abbas meet on Gaza crisis
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during their meeting on Sunday that Israel will resume the flow of humanitarian aid and fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip.
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Gunmen in Guyana kill 5 kids, 6 adults
Gunmen stormed into a coastal village Saturday and killed 11 people, including five children, in violence blamed on a gang leader who has threatened widespread attacks. The assault sparked angry protests over rising crime in this impoverished country.
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Prodi loses confidence vote
Italian Premier Romano Prodi was poised to quit on Thursday night after a Senate confidence vote produced a widely expected defeat for his 20 month-old center-left government.
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Suicide attack kills police chief in northern Iraq
A suicide bomb attack targeted the police chief of Nineveh province in its capital city of Mosul, on Thursday, killing him and a bodyguard and wounding five others, a senior provincial police source said.
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US agrees on stimulus package
The White House and Congress reached a tentative deal Thursday on an economic stimulus package to fend off recession.
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 Palestines break into Egypt for shopping
Palestinian militants from Hamas' armed wing blew up fence walls at the borders between the southern Gaza Strip and Egypt on Wednesday morning, allowing thousands of Gazans to flock into Egypt for shopping.
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Iran to press ahead with nuclear goals
Iranian leaders yesterday vowed to press on with Teheran's disputed nuclear work regardless of any new UN sanctions, a day afer world powers agreed on the outline of a new resolution.
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Strong quake hits Indonesia, triggers panic
Strong quake hits Indonesia, triggers panic A powerful earthquake with magnitude of 6.2 rocked Nias Island off Sumatra Island early Wednesday, meteorology agency Jakarta said.
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Italian PM seeks confidence vote in parliament
Italian Premier Romano Prodi went before the Lower House on Tuesday to ask that it reconfirms its confidence in his government following the decision by ex-justice minister Clemente Mastella to withdraw the support of his Udeur party.
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 Israel to slightly ease siege on Gaza
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided on Monday evening to slightly ease the siege on Gaza and to allow medical supplies and a minimal amount of diesel fuel for the power plant in Gaza, local media reported.
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Colombia's ELN rebels free nine hostages
Nine hostages held by Colombia's rival armed group National Liberation Army (ELN) on Sunday were freed and handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross, local officials said.
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Nikolic, Tadic to enter Serbian presidential run-off
Tomislav Nikolic of the ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party was in lead on Sunday's Serbian presidential election, but he had to face the incumbent pro-Western Boris Tadic in a presidential run-off, first preliminary results showed on Sunday evening.
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Bomb threat closes World Bank
The World Bank said Thursday its security was investigating a bomb threat made by telephone and asked its staff at its Washington headquarters to stay home on Friday.
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 Wen, Brown hold talks, reaching broad consensus
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao began talks with visiting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Beijing on Friday morning at the Great Hall of the People, after a red-carpet welcome ceremony.
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Chile recalls ambassador to Peru
Chile confirmed Thursday that it has recalled its ambassador to Peru as a result of the maritime boundary demand presented by Peru at the international court at The Hague.
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Detained anti-whaling activists freed
The two detained anti-whaling activists, held captive after boarding a Japanese whaling boat on Tuesday, were released Friday morning from a Japanese whaling boat near Antarctica.
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Bus explosion kills 24 in Sri Lanka
At least 24 people were killed and 66 injured when a civilian bus was caught in an explosion blamed on Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka's southeastern Monaragala district Wednesday morning, said the military.
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US announces arms sale to Saudi Arabia
The US Pentagon said Monday it plans to sell advanced bomb delivery systems to Saudi Arabia, coinciding with US President George W. Bush's arrival at the Gulf country.
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Attack at Kabul luxury hotel kills 4
Militants in an explosion and firing attack at a luxury hotel in Afghan capital Kabul killed four hotel employees and injured six other people Monday evening, the interior ministry said.
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IAEA: Iran agree to completely implement workplan
IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said in Vienna on Sunday that Iran and the IAEA reached consensus to complete the implementation of the workplan agreed between the IAEA Secretariat and Iran in August 2007 in the next four weeks.
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Pakistan plagued with terrorism
A suicide bomb blast occurred near the Lahore High Court in eastern Pakistan's Punjab province Thursday, leaving at least 22 dead and more than 50 others injured. It is the gravest suicide attack in the year 2008 in Pakistan, a country threatened by terrorism.
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 Colombian rebels hand over two hostages
Colombia's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) rebels handed over on Thursday Clara Rojas and former legislator Consuelo Gonzalez to an international humanitarian mission in jungles of the country.
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 McCain, Hillary win NH primary
US Democratic Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican Senator John McCain won their parties' primaries in New Hampshire Tuesday, an important battlefield for choosing candidates for this year's presidential election.
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Live mice found on US flight to China
As many as eight dead and live mice were found on a United Airlines' (UA) flight from Washington to Beijing, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said in Beijing on Monday.
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 Saakashvili wins in early presidential race
Former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili won 52.8 percent of most counted ballots by late Sunday in a snap presidential race, heading a narrow victory that was challenged by opposition's allegation of rigging.
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US diplomat killed in Sudan
An American diplomat had died of injuries sustained in a shooting incident in the Sudanese capital early on Tuesday, the US embassy in Sudan said.
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 At least 50 dead in Kenya church fire
Fifty people were killed on Tuesday in a church fire torched by a mob in western Kenya when they were shelering from violence following Kenya's disputed election, according to local police and Red Cross sources.
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175 PKK rebels killed in Turkish strikes
Turkish warplanes had killed about 150-175 militants of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in the military operations in northern Iraq on Dec. 16, said a statement issued by the Turkish General Staff on Tuesday.
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 Uzbek president reelected
Uzbek President Islam Karimov was reelected with 88.1 percent of vote in Sunday's polls, according to preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission on Monday.
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Turkish jets bomb PKK in N Iraq
Turkish warplanes bombed targets of the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) based in northern Iraq on Sunday, private NTV television reported.
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 Pro-Thaksin party wins Thai election
Initial tally results have shown that the People Power Party (PPP), regarded as a nominee party for Thailand's coup-ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, won Sunday's general election, the first for the country after a 15-month rule by a military-appointed government.
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Turkish troops start pulling out from N Iraq
The Turkish troops which purportedly entered northern Iraqi territories overnight Tuesday, started to pull out from Iraq's Erbil province late Tuesday afternoon, sources from Iraq's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) told Xinhua.
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 S Korean presidential election begins
The presidential elections kicked off in South Korea nationwide at 6 a.m. Wednesday (2100 GMT Tuesday). A total of 13,178 polling stations nationwide will be opened to 37.65 million eligible voters.
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Bush keeps pressure on Iran
US President George W. Bush said Monday that Iran would have no legitimate need to enrich uranium at home after Russian deliveries of nuclear fuel to the Islamic Republic.
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 Putin to lead gov't after March's election
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in Moscow on Monday that he will lead the government if First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev wins March's presidential election.
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 Int'l donors pledge $7.4 bln to Palestine
International donors pledged on Monday to provide 7.4 billion US dollars to support Palestine in the coming three years, a key effort to drive the newly-relaunched Middle East peace process.
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 UK hands control of Basra to Iraqis
The British troops transferred responsibility for security in Iraq's southern province of Basra to Iraqi forces on Sunday, nearly four months after the British troops pulled out from the former Saddam Hussein's presidential palace in the city of Basra.
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UK-wanted suspect escapes from police custody
Rashid Rauf, a British national suspected to plan attacks on some transatlantic flights, managed to escape from the police custody in Islamabad on Saturday, according to local press reports.
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 CIA's 'waterboarding' outlawed
The US House of Representatives approved a bill on Thursday to prohibit the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from using "waterboarding" and other harsh tactics to interrogate terrorist suspects.
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Israel, PNA end 1st session of peace talks
Negotiators from Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) ended their first meeting of peace negotiations on Wednesday with little progress but an agreement about a next meeting.
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China, Niue establish diplomatic ties
China and Niue signed a joint communique in Wellington of New Zealand on Wednesday, announcing they have decided to establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level, effective from 12 December, 2007.
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 Train service restored between N, S Korea
South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday resumed normal operation of cross-border railway after a 56-year-long break-off of regular inter-Korean railway service.
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EU, Africa seek new partnership
Heads of state and government to the second European Union (EU)-Africa Summit, which closed in Lisbon on Sunday, endorsed a joint strategy aimed at a new partnership between the two continents.
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 Bali conference on track for breakthrough on climate change
There is a general sense that the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali is on track after a busy week of talks. However, there are still many differences that need to be resolved before the arrival of Ministers attending the High-Level segment which begins on Wednesday.
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Sinopec, Iran sign major oil deal
China Petrochemical Corporation, better known as Sinopec Group, and the Iranian oil ministry on Sunday signed a contract on the development of the Yadavaran oilfield in southwestern Iran.
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Draft of DPRK's nuclear declaration could come in weeks
Chief US negotiator to the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue Christopher Hill said late Thursday night it is possible to have a good draft of the declaration of nuclear programs from Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in a couple of weeks.
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Sharif barred from election in Pakistan
The election officials in eastern Pakistan's Lahore city on Monday disqualified former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to stand in the upcoming parliamentary elections, the News Network International news agency reported.
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 Putin's party wins in parliamentary elections
Preliminary results show the United Russia party, led by President Vladimir Putin, has swept majority votes in Sunday's parliamentary elections, but the Communist Party threatened to challenge the results.
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Bin Laden message to Europe: Quit Afghan war
A new audiotape of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden was shown Thursday night on the Doha-based satellite TV al-Jazeera channel, in which he called for Europeans' back home from military contributions in Afghanistan.
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Chinese warship begins landmark visit to Japan
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Naval missile destroyer "Shenzhen" arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday morning for a four-day visit, the first of its kind in the history of the naval force of the PLA.
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China to cooperate more with France on energy, aviation
During talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Chinese President Hu Jintao has proposed greater cooperation with France on nuclear energy, aviation and aerospace as part of a four-point plan for the development of relations between the two countries.
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2 killed, 26 injured in strong quake in Indonesia
Two toddlers were killed, 26 others were wounded and buildings collapsed in Bima regency of the West Nusa Tenggara province after a strong quake with magnitude of 6.7 rocked the province on Sunday night, local television reported early Monday.
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Musharraf to take oath on Nov. 28
Incumbent Pakistani President Musharraf will likely take oath as president for another five-year term on Nov. 28, Attorney General of Pakistan Malik Muhammad Qayyum said Friday.
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Lebanon delays presidential election
Lebanese parliament on Friday postponed its session for electing a new president for the fifth time on Friday, raising fears of a political vacuum in the country.
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 154 rescued in Antarctic Ocean
A total of 154 on board a luxury cruiseliner which sank after hitting an iceberg in the Antarctic Ocean were rescued on Friday.
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Iran: nuclear meeting with EU to be held
Tehran said on Wednesday that the upcoming nuclear meeting between Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana would be held in London on November 30, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
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 Nations join hands on climate change
China is ready to join East Asian nations in addressing climate change and promoting clean and sustainable development in the region, Premier Wen Jiabao said Wednesday. He made the pledge in a keynote speech at the 3rd East Asia Summit in Singapore.
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China, India 'to hold joint exercise'
Amid reports that China and India will hold their first joint military exercise next month, the two countries yesterday reiterated they were ready to take their strategic cooperative partnership to a "new level".
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Japan urged to compensate 'comfort women'
The lower house of the Dutch parliament passed a motion unanimously on Tuesday urging Japan to financially compensate the people forced into sex slavery during World War II, a Dutch lawmaker told Xinhua.
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Israel to release 432 Palestinians
An Israeli committee approved on Tuesday evening a list of 432 Palestinian security prisoners to be released ahead of a US-sponsored Middle East peace summit.
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Japan starts to fingerprint foreigners
Japan began fingerprinting foreigners entering the country yesterday in an anti-terrorism policy that has sparked complaints from human rights activists, business travelers and long-term residents.
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Olmert, Abbas meet in Jerusalem
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Monday, in an effort to break a deadlock in negotiations on a joint statement, which will be presented at an international peace summit.
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 Belgians rally for country's unity
More than 30,000 Belgians demonstrated in capital Brussels on Sunday to protest against a possible division of the country as the impasse in forming a new government continued five months after elections.
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Bangladesh cyclone death toll reaches 2407
The death toll from Thursday night's powerful cyclone Sidr rose to 2407 as rescuers frantically looking for thousands of missing people in the coastal districts of Bangladesh.
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At least 251 killed in cyclone in Bangladesh
At least 251 people were killed and thousands of others injured in Bangladesh as a powerful cyclone has lashed the country's south and southwestern regions since Thursday evening.
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Pakistan's Bhutto released from house arrest
The provincial Punjab government of Pakistan lifted a house arrest order imposed on former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto early Friday, according to the Daily Times newspaper.
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Inter-Korean PM talks reach three agreements
The prime ministers of South and North Korea wrapped up their three-day talks with a series of agreements on inter-Korean cooperation, South Korean Unification Ministry Spokesman Kim Nam- sik said Friday.
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Two new earthquakes shake Chile
Northern Chile was banged on Thursday by two new earthquakes, the first a 6.2 Richter-scale quake and the second a stronger 6.8 Richter-scale quake, Chile's University Seismic Institute reported on Thursday.
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 IAEA report proves peaceful nature
Iran said Thursday that a just-released UN atomic watchdog IAEA report has proved the country's nuclear program is "peaceful" and the pursuit of new sanctions against the Islamic Republic would be "wrong."
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FM: French president visit to boost ties
French President Nicolas Sarkozy will pay a state visit to China from November 25 to 27 at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao announced at a regular press conference on Thursday.
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US House passes Iraq withdrawal bill
The US House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday night which would allocate US$50 billion for the Iraq war and require President George W. Bush to start troop withdrawal from Iraq in coming weeks with a goal of ending combat by mid December 2008.
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 S, N Korean PMs hold talks
The Prime Ministers of South and North Korea vowed to produce "positive results" in the on-going prime ministerial talks.
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 Major quake strikes Chile; 2 dead
A strong earthquake measuring 7.7 Magnitude rocked northern Chile on Wednesday. Authorities reported at least two deaths and more than 140 injuries.
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Wen likely to meet Japan's PM in Singapore
Premier Wen Jiabao is likely to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on the sidelines of high-level East Asian meetings, scheduled for next week in Singapore, Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei said yesterday.
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Costs of Afghan, Iraqi wars hit US$1.6tr
The economic costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are estimated to total US$1.6 trillion - roughly double the amount the White House has requested thus far, according to a new report by the US Congress' Joint Economic Committee.
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US urged to cease arms sales to Taiwan
China on Tuesday urged the US to immediately cancel arms sale programs, and stop arms sales and military links with Taiwan, according to the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao.
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 Bhutto ordered to stay home for 7 days
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has been detained at a house in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, leading English-language newspaper The Dawn reported Tuesday.
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Japan's lower house passes bill on refueling support
Japan's lower house passed Tuesday a controversial bill to resume the country's refueling support to US-led antiterrorism operations in the Indian Ocean, though the enactment of the bill is expected months away.
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7 killed, 150 wounded in Gaza clashes
Seven Palestinians were killed and about 150 others wounded on Monday afternoon when clashes between Fatah supporters and Hamas police forces erupted at a Fatah-initiated rally commemorating late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in western Gaza City, medics said.
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 Bhutto: no more talks with Musharraf
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said Monday that she had ended talks with President General Pervez Musharraf as "he has not honored his commitments," according to local press reports.
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Russian oil tanker sinks in Black Sea
A Russian oil tanker split in half in a fierce storm in the Kerch Strait leading to the Black Sea on Sunday, spilling at least 2,000 tons of fuel oil, Interfax reported.
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 Tuerk wins Slovenian presidential run-off
Danilo Tuerk, Slovenia's former senior UN diplomat, convincingly won Sunday's presidential run-off with 68.3 percent of the vote against former Prime Minister Lojze Peterle, according to unofficial results released after almost all the votes were counted late on Sunday.
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 Bush, Merkel talk new Iran sanctions
German Chancellor Angela Merkel told US President George W. Bush on Saturday she would be willing to support a third round of UN sanctions against Iran if Teheran continues to resist demands to halt sensitive nuclear work.
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Japan vows to push for resumption of refueling mission
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda vowed on Thursday to make full efforts to resume the Maritime Self- Defense Force (MSDF)'s refueling mission in the Indian Ocean for the US-led antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan.
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 Election will be held before Feb. 15: Musharraf
Pakistani national elections will take place before February 15, President Pervez Musharraf said yesterday, after Western allies and opponents had demanded polls be held on time and emergency rule scrapped.
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 Georgia declares state of emergency
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has declared a 15-day nationwide state of emergency, Minister of Economic Development Georgy Arveladze told a briefing in Tbilisi at midnight on Wednesday.
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 8 killed in Finnish school shooting
Over eight people have been killed in a school shooting that took place on Wednesday in Finland's southern city of Tuusula, Finnish police confirmed on Wednesday evening.
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 'Year of China' ends in Russia
The closing ceremony of the "Year of China" was held in Moscow Tuesday evening, marking the end of the reciprocal China-Russia national theme years which started in 2006. Premier Wen Jiabao and his Russian counterpart Viktor Zubkov attended the ceremony in the Kremlin.
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US Senate, House leave war funds undecided
US Senate and House agreed Tuesday to spend some US$460 billion in baseline defense budget for fiscal year 2008, but left most of the US$196 billion of war funding request undecided.
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Gates visit could signal military hotline
China and the US are likely to jointly announce the establishment of a military hotline linking the Chinese defense ministry and the Pentagon today as US Defense Secretary Robert Gates visits China, sources said.
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 Emergency 'for as short as possible'
Pakistan's government is committed to holding national elections but is undecided when, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Sunday, a day after it imposed emergency rule to deal with rising militancy and a hostile judiciary.
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 Wen arrives in Belarus for official visit
Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Minsk Sunday to start an official visit to Belarus at the invitation of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko. Wen will hold talks with Lukashenko and meet with acting Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko during his stay in the country.
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8 killed in suicide attack in E Pakistan
At least eight people were killed and about 40 others were injured Thursday morning when a bus carrying air force officials was hit by a suicide attacker on a road in eastern Pakistani province of Punjab, said the Pakistani Interior Ministry.
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 Sarkozy in for warm welcome next month
China warmly welcomes French President Nicolas Sarkozy on a state visit next month, which will "be a great event for China-France relations", Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said at a joint press conference with his French counterpart yesterday.
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 White House: US not to attack Iran
The US said Tuesday that it is not about to attack Iran and reaffirmed diplomacy in trying to solve the thorny issue of Iran's nuclear program.
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FM: China rejects Israeli campaign for Iran sanctions
China has rejected Israeli calls for sanctions against Iran following an unexpectedly long meeting between Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni.
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 Cooperation pacts with Jordan inked
China and Jordan yesterday signed a series of agreements on cooperation, including partnership in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and increasing bilateral investment.
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Russian chessboard killer jailed for life
A Russian court Monday sentenced Alexander Pichushkin, a supermarket worker known as the "Bitsa Maniac," to life in prison for murdering 48 people and attempting to murder three others.
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 Turkey celebrates Republic Day amid tension over PKK
Amid tensions over a border crisis in the wake of rising attacks against the Turkish army by the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party based in northern Iraq, the Turkish people celebrates a more emotional Republic Day on Monday.
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10 pacts to be inked with Russia
China and Russia will conclude more than 10 cooperative agreements next week, including those on energy, finance, high-tech and partnership between reciprocal small- and medium-sized enterprises, Russia's ambassador to China Sergey Razov said yesterday.
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 US imposes new sanctions against Iran
The US announced on Thursday that it is imposing new sanctions against Iran, charging that Tehran supports terrorism in the Middle East, exports missiles and is engaging in a nuclear buildup.
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 FM: Premier Wen to attend SCO meeting
Premier Wen Jiabao will attend the sixth Meeting of Prime Ministers of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to be held in Uzbekistan's capital of Tashkent from November 2 to 6, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao said at a regular press conference on Thursday.
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Arson suspect killed in Calif. as wildfires rage on
Police have shot and killed one arson suspect and arrested another one in a mountain area near Los Angeles as authorities began investigation into some of the ongoing wildfires in Southern California, officials said Wednesday.
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 Chinese, Costa Rican presidents meet
President Hu Jintao and his Costa Rican counterpart Oscar Arias Sanchez on Wednesday agreed to develop a lasting, steady, healthy and deep bilateral relationship of friendship and cooperation.
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 Trilateral meeting focuses on cooperation
The foreign ministers of China, Russia and India yesterday reached broad consensus on "practical cooperation" among the three countries - and reaffirmed that the trilateral partnership is not targeted at any other country or organization.
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 US shuttle Discovery lifts off
The US space shuttle Discovery lifts off from its seaside launch pad at Kennedy Space Station in Florida at 11:38 AM (1538 GMT) on Tuesday, NASA TV shows.
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Neighbors forge pragmatic cooperation
The foreign ministers of China, India and Russia will meet today in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin to explore ways to enhance pragmatic trilateral cooperation.
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 Bush pledges to help Turkey fight against PKK
US President George W. Bush promised Turkey's president Monday that the US will join Ankara's effort to fight against Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) operating at Turkey-Iraq border area, the White House said.
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Krygyz president dissolves parliament
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev on Monday signed a decree dissolving parliament and called for early elections, according to news reports from the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.
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S and N Korean nuclear envoys to meet
Nuclear envoys from South and North Korea will hold a working-level meeting Monday to discuss energy and economic assistance to Pyongyang under an agreement adopted at the six-party talks.
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Turkey holds emergency meeting on border security
Turkey held a emergency meeting on border security at Cankaya Presidential Palace in Ankara on Sunday under the leadership of President Abdullah Gul, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.
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 Castro votes in Cuba's municipal elections
Cuba's leader, Fidel Castro, voted in Cuba's municipal elections on Sunday, from the clinic where he has been recovering from a 2006 intestinal operation, witnessed by members of the electoral district where he is registered, state television reported.
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Myanmar lifts curfew order in Yangon, Mandalay
The Myanmar authorities Saturday lifted a night-to-dawn curfew 25 days after it imposed on the biggest city of Yangon and the second largest city of Mandalay, according to announcements of the local administrative and police authorities in the evening.
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European countries, Czech oppose US radar base
Over 100 delegates from 16 European countries, 86 Czech mayors and activists from international peace organizations opposed the planned US radar on Czech soil at an international conference in Breznice, Central Bohemia of the Czech Republic on Saturday.
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Pakistani gov't forms special team to probe into blasts
The Pakistani government has constituted a four-member police team to probe into the two blasts in the procession of Pakistan People's Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto early Friday morning at Sharea Faisal in the southern port city of Karachi, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Friday.
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 Arroyo calls for emergency meeting after blast
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday called for an emergency meeting of the National Security Council after a blast left 8 dead and 89 wounded in a shopping mall in the capital region of the country.
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Japan's blame on E. China Sea refuted
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in Beijing on Friday that Japan's accusation regarding the East China Sea issue is unfounded. China is not responsible for not having achieved substantial progress of the talks.
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 Bhutto survives twin blasts; 110 killed
Up to 110 people were killed and over 200 others injured in two suicide blasts near former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's vehicle in the southern port city of Karachi early Friday morning, local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.
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 Putin makes proposals to Iran
Russian President Vladimir Putin has brought forward a nuclear proposal to Iran's supreme leader during his visit to Tehran, the state-media reported on Wednesday.
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 Turkish parliament passes Kurdish draft
Turkish parliament on Wednesday approved the motion submitted by the government for cross-border military operations in fight against the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK).
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5 new members elected to UNSC
The UN General Assembly elected on Tuesday Libya, Burkina Faso, Vietnam, Costa Rica and Croatia to serve as non-permanent members of the Security Council for two-year terms starting next January 1.
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 Rice wraps up visit in Egypt with moderate support
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wrapped up her short visit to Egypt Tuesday afternoon after winning tempered support of the Arab country for a US-sponsored international conference on Mideast peace.
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Three Americans share Nobel Prize in economics
The 2007 Nobel Prize in economics was awarded to Leonid Hurwicz, Eric S. Maskin and Roger B. Myerson for work that helps explain situations in which markets work well, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced Monday.
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 Israeli minister to Rice: Jerusalem not on table
Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Eli Yishai on Sunday told visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that Jerusalem was "not on the negotiations table," local top-selling daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported on its website.
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Suicide blast kills 7 in S. Afghanistan
A suicide blast Saturday evening rocked a market in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province, killing two policemen and five civilians, a provincial police chief said.
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Myanmar cuts curfew hours shorter
The Myanmar authorities Saturday further cut its original 8-hour curfew imposed on the biggest city of Yangon to four hours which is to last from 11 PM to 3 AM (local times), according to an announcement broadcast by loudspeakers on the authorities' vehicles patrolling around the city.
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 Blackwater sued by its Iraqi victims in US court
Blackwater, the US security firm whose armed personnel allegedly opened fire on innocent Iraqi civilians last month, was sued Thursday by an injured survivor and three families of the men killed in the incident.
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 Turkey recalls ambassador to US
Turkey on Thursday ordered its ambassador to the US to return to Ankara in protest against a US Congress vote to declare the killings of Armenians between 1915 and 1917 a genocide.
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 Putin: No proof Iran has nuclear plans
Russia would continue cooperation with other countries at the United Nations in order to settle Iran's nuclear problem, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after talks with visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Kremlin on Wednesday.
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 Gunman killed in US school shooting
A 14-year-old gunman opened fire at fellow students and teachers at a high school at Cleveland, Ohio, Wednesday, wounding four, and was then killed, the mayor of Cleveland said.
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Musharraf escort chopper crashes, 4 die
At least four security officers of President General Pervez Musharraf were killed when an army helicopter crashed in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir on Monday, the army spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said.
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 Britain to reduce troops in Iraq to 2,500
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Monday in a statement in the House of Commons that his country would reduce its troops in Iraq to 2,500 by spring 2008.
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Olmert: no agreement has been reached with Abbas
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that he and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas did not come to any conclusion during their meeting last week, the daily Ha'aretz reported on its website.
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 Flood toll in Vietnam reaches 67
Flooding, hitting Vietnam's central and northern regions since October 4, killed or left missing 67 local people as of Sunday afternoon, Vietnam's Central Television reported.
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 Report: Britain to back US air strikes on Iran
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has agreed to support US air strikes against Iran if the Islamic country orchestrates large-scale attacks by militants against British or American forces in Iraq, a British newspaper said on Sunday.
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Musharraf names army successor
Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday named his successor as army chief, and announced that ex-premier Benazir Bhutto could be given amnesty over corruption charges.
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 Two Koreas reach out for peace
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean top leader Kim Jong-il concluded their first round of formal summit talks in Pyongyang on Wednesday morning.
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4 kidnapped ICRC staff released in Afghanistan
A Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said four kidnapped staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were released in Wardak province of central Afghanistan on Saturday.
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 Iran: US troops and CIA 'terrorist'
Iranian lawmakers on Saturday branded the US troops and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as terrorist groups, according to a statement released by the Iranian state media.
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Turkey, Iraq sign anti-terrorism pact
Turkey and Iraq on Friday signed an agreement to fight against terrorism, but still differed over Turkey's military incursion into northern Iraq to strike bases of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK).
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 IMF names Strauss-Kahn as new chief
The International Monetary Fund approved on Friday former French finance minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn to head the financial institution.
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Pakistani court orders release of opposition members
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the release of all political leaders and activists, who were recently detained by authorities to foil their attempt to rally against President General Pervez Musharraf's bid to contest for another five-year term.
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 China, Japan mark 35th diplomatic anniversary
China and Japan on Thursday expressed the hope that bilateral ties should move headway as they staged grand activities marking the 35th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties.
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 Nuclear talks show signs of progress
The six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue are moving in the "correct" direction despite difficulties that have yet to be settled on the way forward, the chief Chinese delegate said on Thursday.
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Iraqi PM appeals for int'l support
Iraqi Prime Minister Nori Kamil al-Maliki on Wednesday called on the international community to support his country on way to peace, security and prosperity.
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 60 killed as bridge collapses in Vietnam
A Japanese-funded bridge under construction in southern Vietnam collapsed yesterday, killing up to 60 workers and injuring around 150 in the country's worst such disaster.
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Merkel-Dalai Lama meeting criticized
China is strongly dissatisfied with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's meeting with the Dalai Lama, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular press conference on Tuesday.
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 Myanmar issues curfew order in Yangon
The Myanmar authorities issued on Tuesday night a curfew order, banning the gathering of more than five persons in the country's biggest city of Yangon, according to the Yangon Division Administrative Department.
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 Ahmedinejad defends Iran's nuclear program
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad defended on Tuesday his country's nuclear program, saying "all our nuclear activities have been completely peaceful and transparent."
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Putin announces changes in new Russian gov't
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday Russia's new Cabinet, including new ministers of health, economics, and regional development, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.
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Italian hostages freed in Afghanistan
Two Italian hostages kidnapped in Afghanistan were freed Monday in a NATO commando raid and in which the hostages were injured, one seriously, according to the Italian defense ministry.
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 Japanese invited to PLA drill
Japanese observers will attend today's military drill in Northeast China for the first time, in what experts say is a substantial step in China-Japan defense ties.
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 Iran urges US to give up hostility
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in New York on Monday that Iranians will be the "best friends" of the United States if the latter gives up its hostility toward the Islamic republic.
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Ahmadinejad: Iran needs no nuclear weapons
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said before he left for the UN General Assembly in New York that Iran does not need to have nuclear weapons and does not want to have war with the US, according to a CBS TV report.
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'Jena 6' case causes uproar in LA
Hundreds of people rallied in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday to protest the treatment of six African-American teenagers accused of assaulting a white classmate.
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 Ties with Chad gather momentum
China and Chad signed a series of cooperative agreements, including one on a joint venture between China National Petroleum Corporation and Chadian Oil Refinery, in Beijing yesterday.
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Iranian president still wants to visit WTC site
Iranian officials say they still hope to work out an agreement for their country's president to lay a wreath at the World Trade Center site when he visits New York next week, local media reported on Thursday.
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Iran threatens to bomb Israel if attacked
A top Iranian military commander warned on Wednesday that his country would bomb Israel back if Iran is attacked by the Jewish state, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
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 Lebanese lawmaker killed in explosion
Lebanese pro-government lawmaker Antoine Ghanem was assassinated in a powerful explosion that ripped through his car in eastern Beirut on Wednesday, six days before a scheduled parliament session to elect a new president.
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UNGA rejects Taiwan's UN bid
The General Committee of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly decided on Wednesday not to include the so-called issue of "Taiwan's participation in the United Nations," raised by the Solomon Islands and a very few other countries, into the agenda of the General Assembly.
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 UN General Assembly Opens
The 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly opened on Tuesday amid calls for multilateral solutions to global challenges.
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 Greek PM Gets Mandate to Form New Gov't
Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Monday received a mandate to form a new government, one day after voters swept him and his ruling New Democracy party back to power in Sunday's parliamentary election.
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 Mukasey Named as Attorney General
A retired federal judge, Michael Mukasey, was named to replace Alberto R. Gonzales as the attorney general, President George W. Bush announced on Monday.
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 88 Killed, 42 Injured in Plane Crash in Thailand
As many as 88 people were killed and 42 injured when a budget airliner crashed in attempting to land at the Phuket International Airport in southern Thailand on Sunday afternoon, reports in Bangkok said.
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 Key Iraqi Sunni Tribal Leader Killed
A Sunni tribal Sheikh who is backed by the US and Iraqi government to fight the al-Qaida network in Iraq was killed in a roadside bomb attack on Thursday, local police source said.
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US Strongly Opposes Taiwan's UN Referendum: Official
The United States on Tuesday expressed strong opposition to the Taiwan authorities' proposed referendum on UN membership in the name of Taiwan, saying that the initiative, with apparent pursuit of name change, is "a step intended to change the status quo" across the Taiwan Straits.
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 Putin Nominates New PM Candidate
Russian President Vladimir Putin has nominated financial intelligence chief Viktor Zubkov as candidate for prime minister on Wednesday, hours after he dissolved the government at the request of Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov.
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Putin Dissolves Russian Gov't
Russian President Vladimir Putin has dissolved the government at the request of Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, Russian news media reported Wednesday.
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 Indonesian Earthquake Leaves 9 Dead
At least nine people were killed and more than one hundred feared injured after a strong earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Ritcher Scale hit the Bengkulu province of Indonesia on Wednesday, the Disaster Management Agency said in Jakarta Thursday.
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 Japanese PM Shinzo Abe Resigns
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered his resignation on Wednesday at a press conference held at his office, less than a month after he reshuffled the Cabinet following a crushing defeat in parliamentary election.
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Russia Tests Most Powerful Non-nuclear Bomb
Russia has developed a new type of bomb, also known as fuel-air bomb, which was claimed as the most powerful non-nuclear bomb, a senior officer said in a TV interview on Tuesday.
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Bush to Address Nation, Announce Troop Drawdown
US President George W. Bush is expected to announce a plan to cut troop levels in Iraq by 30,000 by mid 2008 when he addresses the nation later this week, US officials told the media on Tuesday.
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 US Vows to Capture Bin Laden
The United States vowed on Tuesday to capture elusive Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and meanwhile stressed that war on terrorism is not just against the terror network leader.
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 Experts in N. Korea to Discuss Nuclear Issue
A group of Chinese, Russian, and American experts flew to Pyongyang yesterday to discuss disabling nuclear facilities in North Korea, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said yesterday at a regular press conference.
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Olmert, Abbas Agree to Work Toward Two-state Solution
During their meeting Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas reached an agreement to setup working groups to discuss issues pertaining to the two-state solution.
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 Petraeus: US to Cut Troops in Iraq
Citing achievements of the troop "surge plan," the top US military commander in Iraq Gen. David Petraeus proposed on Monday a gradual drawdown of troop presence in that country.
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Former PM Sharif's Plane Lands in Pakistan
The exiled former Prime Minister of Pakistan and leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif came out of the airliner and was shifted to a VIP lounge at the Islamabad airport on Monday morning, local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.
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 FM: Hu's Australia Tour Boosts Regional Cooperation
President Hu Jintao's just-concluded tour to Australia, a major diplomatic move by China in the Asia-Pacific region, is of great significance in facilitating the development of bilateral ties and deepening regional cooperation, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Monday.
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UK Jets Intercept Russian Bombers
Britain's air force scrambled four Tornado warplanes yesterday to intercept eight Russian long-range bombers, the Ministry of Defense said.
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Japan-DPRK Talks End Without Progress
Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) yesterday wrapped up two days of talks on establishing diplomatic relations without visible progress in disputes over key issues that have hampered efforts to improve bilateral ties.
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Spy Chief Refuses to Reveal Ransom Terms
The Republic of Korea's (ROK) spy chief said yesterday he could not comment on whether any ransom was paid to free 21 Christian aid workers held by Taliban militants in Afghanistan, seemingly contradicting earlier remarks that no ransom was paid.
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DPRK Envoy Discusses Next Phase of Six-Party Talks
Chief negotiator for the nuclear talks from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Kye-Gwan met with Chinese officials on Thursday to discuss the next phase of the six-party talks, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu at a regular press conference.
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 It's Time to 'Get Tough on Taiwan'
Beijing has to send tougher warnings to the Taiwan authorities as the situation across the Taiwan Straits has entered a "highly dangerous period", President Hu Jintao told his US counterpart George W. Bush yesterday.
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 Premier Holds Key to Continuous Development
China's economy is on the whole in good shape, but unstable factors, imbalances and lack of sustainability also affect the country's economic development, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Thursday at the summer meeting of the World Economic Forum in Dalian City, northeast China.
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Hu: Building a Sustainable Future
Chinese President Hu Jintao on Thursday delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the business summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, expounding China's views on building a sustainable future.
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Abe Gov't Hit by New Funding Scandal
Japan's new environment minister admitted yesterday to mistakes in past political fund reports, dealing yet another blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has been plagued by a slew of scandals in his Cabinet.
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 Hu Warns Against Taiwan Secession
President Hu Jintao reiterated firm opposition to Taiwan "independence", saying secessionist activities in any form will not be allowed.
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China Denies Stopping Aid to Zimbabwe
The Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe on Tuesday dismissed as false media reports claiming that China has withdrawn all assistance except humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe.
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China-Australia Parliamentary Ties Hailed
Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao Wednesday said that exchanges between Chinese and Australian legislatures have contributed to the comprehensive cooperation between both countries.
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'Chemical Ali' Death Sentence Upheld
An Iraqi appeals court yesterday upheld the death sentence against Saddam Hussein's cousin, widely known as "Chemical Ali", for masterminding a genocidal campaign against Iraq's Kurds in the 1980s.
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Vice President Meets Japanese Guests
Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong met in Beijing Tuesday with a visiting Japanese young leader delegation headed by Anami Koreshige, an ambassador from the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
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Powerful Felix Hits Central American Coast
Hurricane Felix slammed into Nicaragua's Miskito Coast as a record-setting Category 5 monster storm yesterday, whipping metal rooftops through the air like razors and forcing thousands to flee.
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US: N Korea Remains on Terror List
Top US negotiator Christopher Hill said yesterday that North Korea must do more to dismantle its nuclear weapons program before it can be removed from Washington's list of states that sponsor terrorism.
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ROK Hostages' Captor Killed, Says Gov't
Afghan security forces killed a Taliban commander they alleged yesterday to be behind the July kidnappings of 23 South Korean church workers. The Taliban denied the claim.
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 Pentagon Hacking Charge Denied
China yesterday described as "groundless" and a product of "Cold War mentality" reports claiming hackers, on the instructions of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), had broken into a Pentagon network.
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 Hu: Ties Maintain Sound Development Momentum
Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao said Tuesday that China-Australia relations have maintained a sound momentum of development in recent years. He made the remarks during a meeting with Australian Governor-General Michael Jeffery.
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Macedonia Sticks to One China Policy
Macedonia would unswervingly adhere to one China policy and push the friendly cooperation between the two countries in all fields to a new level, Macedonian leaders said on Monday.
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Bush Says Troop Cuts in Iraq Possible
US President George W. Bush, who was on a surprise visit to Iraq's western province of Anbar, said on Monday that US troop cuts in the country is possible, the pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV reported.
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Abducted Pakistani Security Men to Be Released
A tribal jirga making efforts to secure the release of over 100 security men kidnapped in Pakistan's tribal area said that talks with militants would be successful and the hostages would be released by Tuesday, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Monday.
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US to Lift Sanctions on DPRK
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Monday that the United States has agreed to remove the country from a list of states that sponsor terrorism and lift economic sanctions.
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 UN Chief Kicks off Historic Visit to Sudan
Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon arrived in Khartoum on Monday to start an official visit in Sudan which has been termed by the Sudanese government as a "historic."
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Politics 'Are to Blame' for WTO Probes
Efforts by the United States and Mexico to push for investigations by the World Trade Organization (WTO) into China's alleged subsidizing of industrial exports are motivated by domestic political goals, the Ministry of Commerce said Monday.
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 Hu Begins State Visit to Australia
Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Perth on Monday for a state visit to Australia, where he will also attend the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Sydney on September 8-9.
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Abbas Announces Amended Electoral Law
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Sunday announced the new edition of the Palestinian electoral law, which was given adjustments favorable to Abbas' Fatah against the rival Hamas in the future elections.
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State Councilor Meets Japanese Guests
Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan on Sunday met former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu and Chairman of the General Council of the Liberal Democratic Party Toshihiro Nikai.
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Musharraf-Bhutto Talks Stalled But Not Over
Power-sharing talks between Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto have stalled but political compulsions are likely to push both back to the table, analysts said.
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Japan's Farm Minister Resigns
Japan's new Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Takehiko Endo resigned on Monday, one week after taking office, over a scandal involving a farmers' group that he heads.
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 Lebanese Army Seizes Refugee Camp
Lebanese troops took control yesterday of a Palestinian refugee camp where they had been battling militants for more than three months, killing at least 31 fighters who tried to flee, security sources said.
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Militants Abduct Scores of Pakistani Troops
Militants claiming to have abducted scores of Pakistani troops near the Afghan border demanded yesterday that the army withdraw from the area, as talks aimed at securing the soldiers' release continued, a militant spokesman and officials said.
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 N Korea, US Reach Deal in Geneva
North Korea has agreed to declare and disable all its nuclear facilities by the end of this year, the chief US negotiator said yesterday.
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China-Australia Ties Bring Tangible Benefits
China and Australia established diplomatic relations 35 years ago. Since then, remarkable achievements have been made in various fields due to the joint efforts of our two governments and peoples, which have brought tangible benefits.
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Hu Visits Australia for APEC Talks
President Hu Jintao was expected to begin a state visit to Australia today. He is set to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and wrap up energy and mineral resources deals.
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Omani Parliament Leader to Visit China
Yahya Bin Mahfoodh Bin Salim Al-Manthri, president of State Council of the Sultanate of Oman, will head a delegation to visit China from Sept. 4 to 10 at the invitation of Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), according to the sources from the NPC on Friday.
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Industrial Nations Shy away from 2020 Goals
Industrial nations were shying away from fixing stiff 2020 guidelines for greenhouse gases cuts at UN talks on Friday in what environmentalists said would be a vote for "dangerous" climate change.
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DPRK Not to Be Removed from Terrorism List Yet
US top negotiator to the six-party talks Christopher Hill Friday said that Washington currently has no intention of removing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) from a list of countries accused of "sponsoring terrorism".
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 13 Wounded in Fatah-Hamas Clashes in Gaza
Twelve Palestinians and a French photographer wounded Friday in clashes between supporters of President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement and Hamas executive force in Gaza, witnesses and medics said.
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Fed Ready to Act If Turmoil Hits Economy
US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke vowed Friday that the central bank is prepared to take more actions to keep the credit crisis from hurting the economy.
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 Hundreds Mark Death Anniversary of Diana
Royals and celebrities joined Princes William and Harry to honor their mother Princess Diana on Friday, the 10th anniversary of her death in a high-speed limousine crash in Paris.
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Suicide Bombing Strikes Military Airport in Kabul
A suicide car bombing killed one civilian and slightly injured some soldiers of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) at a gate of the ISAF airport in Kabul on Friday morning, officials said.
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'Taiwan Independence' Attempt Condemned
China, in a UN letter made public Wednesday night, strongly condemned an attempt by "very few" countries to request the UN General Assembly to consider the so-called question of "Taiwan's application for United Nations membership."
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Iraq's Shiite, Sunni to Meet in Finland
High-ranking representatives of Iraq's majority Shiite and minority Sunni Muslim groups would meet in Finland within a couple of days under the auspices of the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) headed by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, the CMI told the Finnish News Agency on Thursday.
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Chinese, Fijian FMs Discuss Ties
Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi held talks with his Fijian counterpart Epeli Nailatikau on Thursday, agreeing to enrich cooperative partnership.
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'Little Progress' Seen on Iraq Goals
The Iraqi government has failed to meet the vast majority of political and military goals laid out by lawmakers to assess President Bush's Iraq War strategy, congressional auditors have determined.
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UN Envoy: Revived Mideast Talks Possible
The UN's top Middle East envoy said there are "signs of hope" that Israel and the Palestinians can agree to revive the stalled peace process in time for a related US-sponsored international conference in November.
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Most Fires Now Under Control in Greece
Firefighters were battling one remaining major blaze in southern Greece yesterday, after managing to bring under control hundreds of others that for one week ravaged large parts of the country and killed at least 64 people.
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 Hazardous Substance Found in UN Building
UN inspectors found in a UN building in New York vials that may contain a potentially deadly chemical original removed from an Iraqi facility by UN a decade ago, an official announced Thursday.
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FM, Commerce Minister to Attend APEC Meeting
Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi and Commerce Minister Bo Xilai will jointly lead a delegation to attend the 19th ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), announced Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao Thursday in Beijing.
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 Last South Korean Hostages Freed
Taliban militants released the final seven of 21 South Korean hostages in central Afghanistan yesterday, bringing to an end a six-week drama that left two captives executed.
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Guangdong, Sao Paulo Sign Friendship Agreement
Southern China's Guangdong province and the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo have signed a friendship agreement to enhance understanding and exchanges, China's embassy in Brazil said Wednesday.
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Japanese Court Dismisses Chinese Forced Labor Lawsuit
A Japanese district court Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit filed by former Chinese forced workers and bereaved families, who demanded a total of 460 million yen (about US$4 million) in compensation from the Japanese government and related companies for suffering endured during the Second World War.
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Exhibition on Chinese Relics Opens in Mozambique
A permanent exhibition of Chinese porcelain dated back to the Ming Dynasty in the 16th century has been opened on the Mozambique Island in the northern province of Nampula, the official media AIM reported on Wednesday.
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Kosovo Dismisses Notion of Partition
Kosovo leaders on Wednesday dismissed the notion of Kosovo partition and vowed to keep the province intact, news reports reaching Tirana from Pristina said.
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Abu Ghraib Officer Not Guilty of Abuse
The Abu Ghraib prison case has effectively ended, and responsibility for the detainee pictures that drew world outrage ended up rising no higher on the chain of command than staff sergeant.
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Bush to Request US$50 Billion More for War
US President George W. Bush is preparing to ask Congress for as much as US$50 billion in additional funding for the war in Iraq, The Washington Post reported yesterday, citing a White House official.
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US Troops Could Leave Iraq in One Year
Most US troops can be withdrawn safely from Iraq in roughly one year and the Bush administration should begin planning the pullout immediately, according to a study released yesterday.
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France, Libya in Secret Defense Pact
France and Libya have entered into a secret agreement on defense cooperation covering the sale of military hardware and provision of training for Libyan Special Forces, French weekly satirical newspaper Le Canard Enchaine reported Wednesday.
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Turkish President Approves New Cabinet
Turkish Prime Minister-designate Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey's newly-elected President Abdullah Gul had approved his new cabinet.
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 Noriega Escapes Justice in Panama
A US judge's decision to extradite Manuel Noriega to France has denied Panama the chance to hand justice to the former strongman for killing opponents, including one who was beheaded, during his rule in the 1980s.
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Visit Aims to Build Trust in Security
Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan kicked off his five-day official goodwill visit to Japan yesterday, the first visit by a Chinese defense minister to the country in more than nine years, a move seen by many commentators as a sign of thawing relations.
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 Taliban Free 12 South Korean Hostages
A total of 12 South Korean hostages were released by Taliban militants in Afghanistan on Wednesday following six weeks in captivity. The remaining seven hostages are expected to be freed in the next few days.
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UNHCR: Humanitarian Situation Worsening in Iraq
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warned on Tuesday that the humanitarian situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate with the number of displaced Iraqis, both inside and outside the country, still rising.
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Musharraf May Quit Army for Re-election
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf may quit as army chief in return for support from political parties to re-elect him for another term, a newspaper reported yesterday.
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Olmert, Abbas Talk Statehood
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held talks on Palestinian statehood yesterday but discussed core issues only in broad terms, a senior Palestinian official said.
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 Lively Views Exchanged on Relations
Frank and heated exchanges on Sino-Japanese relations and the future of Asia marked discussions between Chinese university students and Japanese guests at the third Beijing-Tokyo Forum yesterday.
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China Tells US to Grasp Common Interests in Bilateral Ties
China and the United States should view bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and focus on common interests to ensure the development of constructive and cooperative ties, said China's top legislator Wu Bangguo on Tuesday.
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52 Killed in Iraq's Shiite Holy City
About 52 were killed and more than 206 others injured so far during fierce clashes between gunmen and police in Iraq's Shiite holy city of Karbala, which initially erupted on Monday night, a local police source said on Tuesday evening.
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 Ahmadinejad Says His Country Is 'Nuclear Iran'
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated yesterday that Teheran has achieved full proficiency in the nuclear fuel cycle and warned the West that dialogue and friendship - not threats - were the right way to deal with Iran.
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 FM Gul Elected Turkish President
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was elected the country's president yesterday, the first former Islamist to take the post in the secular but predominantly Muslim country's modern history.
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Tibet Article Makes Key Point
An article that stated "it is wrong to consider Lamaism a pacifying religion" has drawn a lot of attention since it appeared on the website of the China Tibet Information Center.
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Quadruple Chinese Proposal at APEC Summit
China hopes to see progress on such topics as climate change and clean development, integration of regional economy, multilateral trade and APEC reform at the impending APEC summit, said a senior official with the Chinese Foreign Ministry Tuesday.
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Taliban Agrees to Free S. Korean Hostages
The Taliban have agreed to free 19 South Korean hostages kidnapped in Afghanistan following a negotiation with South Korean officials, said South Korean Presidential Office Spokesman Cheon Ho-seon on Tuesday.
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Germany Through Curtains, Photos
The people of Nanjing will be the first in China to experience modern and innovative Germany through concerts, exhibitions, movies and fairs.
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Premier Wen to Attend 2007 'Summer Davos'
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will attend the opening ceremony of the Inaugural Annual Meeting of the New Champions -- from Davos to Dalian, known as the "Summer Davos", that will be held in northeast China's Dalian city from September 6 to 8.
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China,Vietnam DMs Agree to Promote Ties
Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan and his Vietnamese counterpart Phung Quang Thanh held talks Monday in Beijing, agreeing to promote bilateral military ties.
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Wen: UN's Role Should Be Strengthened
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on Monday the United Nations' function should be enhanced when he met with New President of UN General Assembly Srgjan Kerim.
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Top Legislator Meets IPU President, US Congressmen
Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo met respectively with Pier Ferdinando Casini, president of the Council of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and Ike Skelton, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee who heads an eight-member congressmen delegation from the United States.
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Suicide Bomber Kills 9 in Fallujah
A suicide bomber blew himself up among worshippers at a mosque in the city of Fallujah in west of Baghdad on Monday night, killing at least nine people and wounding 11 others, local police said.
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Musharraf's Envoys Meet Bhutto
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has sent representatives to London to negotiate with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on a power-sharing pact, an official and newspapers said yesterday.
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US, N Korea to Meet in Geneva
The United States and North Korea will hold talks on normalizing their relations on September 1-2 in Geneva, the US State Department said yesterday.
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S Korea, Taliban to Resume Direct Talks Today
South Korean officials and the Taliban would resume face-to-face talks on 19 South Korean hostages at 10:00 AM (05:30 GMT) on Today in Ghazni province of central Afghanistan, a Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said yesterday.
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Russia: Bombers Not Flying with Nuclear Weapons
Russian bombers which this month resumed their Soviet-era practice of flying long-range patrols near NATO airspace are not carrying nuclear weapons, a senior air force commander said on Monday.
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 US Attorney General Gonzales Steps Down
US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resigned yesterday, ending a controversial tenure as chief US law enforcement officer that blemished the administration of President George W. Bush.
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'No First Use' of Nuclear Weapons Reiterated
A senior officer of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) told the visiting chairman of the Armed Services Committee of the US House of Representatives Ike Skelton on Monday that China's policy of "No first use of nuclear weapons at any time under any circumstances" is firm and consistent, and will never be changed.
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 Consensus Reached on Energy, Green Tech
Energy and the environment were among the key issues discussed between China and Germany as the two countries' leaders reaffirmed their commitment to push forward their strategic partnership.
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State Councilor Chen to Visit Russia
At the invitation of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, Chinese State councilor Chen Zhili will visit Russia from Sept. 1 to 8, Chinese Foreign Ministry announced in Beijing on Monday.
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Premier Wen Declares Opposition to Hacker Activity
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday that China firmly opposed hackers and promised full cooperation with Germany on the prevention and tracking of any hacker activity.
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Indonesia to Discuss Food Standards with China
Indonesia is expected to send a team representing a number of institutions to China early next month to discuss safety standards for food and other products, an Indonesian diplomat has said.
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Abe Names New Executives of LDP
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Monday appointed Foreign Minister Taro Aso and two other lawmakers as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's new key executives, after the LDP's crushing defeat in July's upper house election.
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Maliki Lashes out at Hillary
Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki lashed out yesterday at US Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton who had called for him to be replaced and criticized the US military for killing civilians.
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Presidents of Uganda, DRC Agree to Meet
The presidents of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have agreed to hold a face-to-face summit in two weeks to discuss the tension at their common border, according to foreign ministry sources.
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Iran: Nuclear Program Has Not Slowed Down
Iran said yesterday its nuclear activities have not halted or slowed down, rejecting reports that it has not significantly expanded its uranium enrichment program this summer as planned.
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Chinese Top Advisor Meets Former Japanese PM
Chinese top advisor Jia Qinglin Sunday met with former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, proposing that the two countries should seize key opportunities to step up the development of bilateral relations.
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CPC Delegation to Visit Five Countries
A delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) left Urumqi, capital of northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Sunday night for a visit to five countries in Asia and Europe, including Tajikistan, Georgia, Macedonia, Albania and Turkmenistan.
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China, Vietnam Vow to Promote Military Ties
Liang Guanglie, chief of general staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Sunday met with Phung Quang Thanh, the Defense Minister of Vietnam. The two military leaders promised to further promote bilateral military ties.
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ASEAN to Wrap up Trade Talks by 2013
Southeast Asian countries hope to conclude free-trade talks with six major trading partners, including China, Japan and Australia, by 2013 but would avoid any new negotiations amid the frenzy of the work ahead, a top official said yesterday.
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 Wildfires Claim 52 in Greece
Wind-whipped flames consumed villages and parched forests yesterday, bearing down on the site of the ancient Olympics as massive forest fires that have killed 52 people raged across Greece, where the government declared a state of emergency.
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Hu to Visit Australia, Attend APEC Meeting
Chinese President Hu Jintao will pay a 7-day state visit to Australia starting from September 3 and attend the 15th economic leaders' informal meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation there, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in Beijing on Monday.
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 More Bombs Found After Blasts Kill 43
Police found 19 unexploded bombs in a southern Indian city Sunday after at least 43 people were killed Saturday in blasts blamed on Islamic militants based in other countries.
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Merkel Has Climate Change on Agenda
German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Beijing late last night on her second official visit to China, which is partly aimed at emphasizing her commitment to fighting climate change on a global scale.
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 US Intelligence Report on Iraq Released
A new intelligence report released on Thursday showed that the Bush administration's "surge" strategy has made progress in Iraq but the US military still faces "very tough challenges ahead," the White House said.
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Immigration Releases 28 Chinese in Philippines
Immigration officials in the Philippines released 28 Chinese workers on Tuesday, but are still detaining 63 for not having permits to work in the country, the Chinese embassy in Manila said Wednesday.
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China, Laos Pledge Continued Cooperation
Thursday, China and Laos signed six cooperation deals in various fields as a supplement to their longstanding friendship. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting Laotian Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh witnessed the signing ceremony following their meeting.
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Golden Sea-Land Route Ties Four Asian Nations
A sea-land transport channel joint developed by China, Russia, South Korea and Japan will open this year. This golden route is the sole Japan Sea-rim transport lane worldwide. It is expected to boost regional economic development throughout Northeast Asia, the Shanghai Securities News reported on Wednesday.
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 President: Iran Not to Give Up Its Nuclear Right
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, that his country will not give up its right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful uses, according to reports reaching Moscow.
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 Bangladeshi Gov't Declares Curfew
The Bangladeshi government declared curfew in the headquarters of six divisions including capital Dhaka Wednesday as the violence escalated in the country.
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Hu, Roh Hail S Korea Exchange Event
President Hu Jintao and his South Korean counterpart Roh Moo-hyun sent congratulatory messages on the inauguration of a cultural exchange program in Beijing yesterday.
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Dean Leaves Trail of Destruction in Mexico
Hurricane Dean slammed into Mexico's Caribbean coast yesterday, flooding streets, blowing the roofs off houses and battering resorts where tens of thousands of tourists and residents huddled in shelters.
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 US, Canadian, Mexican Leaders Wrap Up Summit
Leaders of the US, Canada and Mexico on Tuesday hurriedly wrapped up a two-day summit in Montebello, Quebec of Canada, which was dogged by protesters and overshadowed by Hurricane Dean from its very beginning, reports reaching Washington said.
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IAEA, Iran Begin Third Round of Nuclear Talks
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) delegation and Iranian negotiators on Monday began their third round of talks over Iran's nuclear program, the official news agency IRNA reported.
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Syria Ready to Aid to Rebuild Iraq
"Syria will stand by the Iraqi people and back every effort that eases their suffering and helps them overcome their ordeal," Syrian Prime Minister Ottri said during talks with his visiting Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki.
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 Dean Triggers Red Alert in E Mexico
The Mexican authorities on Monday declared a red alert, the nation's highest danger rating, in the eastern Mexico state of Quintana Roo, on Mexico's Caribbean coast, due to Hurricane Dean which is set to make landfall within hours.
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 German Hostage Rescued in Kabul
A German woman kidnapped two days ago in Kabul was rescued in a police operation early Monday, Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Zamarai Bashari said.
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Hu in Astana for State Visit
President Hu Jintao arrived in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, on Friday for a state visit aimed at enhancing pragmatic cooperation with the Central Asian state.
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 SCO Anti-terror Drill Wraps Up
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries wound up their largest-ever joint anti-terror military drill on Friday in the presence of their heads of state.
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 Peru Quake Death Toll Rises to 450
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.9 magnitude which hit Peru's southern coast Wednesday evening has killed at least 450 people and injured 1,500 others.
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SCO Nations Eye Closer Partnership
The six member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) yesterday pledged long-term friendship and cooperation while reiterating the commitment to a nuclear-weapon-free Central Asia at their seventh summit in the Kyrgyz capital.
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 Hu, Putin Meet in Bishkek
Chinese President Hu Jintao called Thursday for constant communication between China and Russia on bilateral ties and major regional and global issues.
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Hu: China Supports SCO to Cooperate with Non-members
China supports the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to hold dialogue and carry out exchanges and cooperation with other countries and international organizations, Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Thursday.
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 Envoys Arrive for Six-Party Talks
Senior officials from China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan arrived in Shenyang on Wednesday for a working group meeting on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
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 US Mulls Blacklisting Iran's Revolutionary Guard
The United States is moving toward blacklisting Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a "terrorist" organization, subjecting at least part of the entity to financial sanctions in a new move against the Islamic republic, a US official said on Tuesday.
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 Hu, Iranian President Discuss Nuclear Issue
President Hu Jintao discussed the Iranian nuclear issue and bilateral ties with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday before the start of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit today.
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 4 Suicide Bombings Kill 200 in Iraq
Rescuers dug through the muddy wreckage of collapsed clay houses in northwest Iraq on Wednesday, uncovering victims of four suicide bombings that Iraqi officials said killed at least 200 people in one of the worst attacks of the war.
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Talks on S Korean Hostages to Be Resumed Thursday
Face-to-face negotiations between the Taliban and South Korean officials on South Korean hostages will be resumed on Thursday morning in central Afghanistan, a purported Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told Xinhua from an undisclosed place on Wednesday.
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US 'Encouraged' by Pollution Control Moves
The Chinese government is taking a series of aggressive measures to reduce air pollution in the run-up to the Olympic Games, a senior US environmental adviser said yesterday, and pledged to work together with the country on a long-term plan to tackle global warming.
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Farm Sealed off, Disease Suspected
Britain set up controls round a farm in southeast England yesterday because of a suspected case of foot and mouth disease, raising fears that an existing outbreak of the livestock disease may not have been contained.
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Hostage Crisis: No New Talks Planned
Taliban leaders and South Korean officials were continuing negotiations by telephone over the fate of the remaining 19 hostages yesterday, but no new face-to-face talks had been planned, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.
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 Israeli Troops Raid Hamas in Gaza
Israeli army troops arrested scores of Palestinians during an incursion into southern Gaza city of Kahn Younis Tuesday afternoon, hours after the killing of four people in the offensive.
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Seoul Seeks Joint Economic Community
The President of the Republic of Korea (ROK), Roh Moo-hyun, said yesterday his country will seek a joint economic community with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as officials from the two sides prepare for the second-ever summit between leaders on the divided peninsula.
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 China, Kyrgyzstan to Increase Cooperation
Tuesday in Bishkek, China and Kyrgyzstan signed a comprehensive joint statement on bilateral relations, anti-terrorism, military cooperation, trade promotion, and other major international issues of common concern.
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 Russian on Trial for 49 Murders
A Moscow court yesterday began trying a supermarket porter who prosecutors say murdered 49 people over a 14-year period, which would make him Russia's worst serial killer in a decade.
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N-issue Discussed with Pyongyang
Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and his DPRK counterpart Kim Kye-gwan yesterday discussed the current situation of the Korean Peninsula denuclearization process, as well as the second working group meeting of the six parties.
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 Taliban Releases Two S. Korean Hostages
Taliban militants freed two female South Korean hostages in central Afghanistan on Monday afternoon, the first significant development in an enduring hostage crisis, officials said.
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US, DPRK Nuclear Envoys to Meet in Beijing
Top nuclear negotiators from the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will meet in Beijing and participate in a working group meeting in northeastern China later this week, according to diplomatic sources.
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20 Dead in Express Bus Accident in Malaysia
A total of 20 passengers died when a express bus they were in skidded and overturned at the expressway near Bukit Gantang, Malaysian northern state of Perak on Monday morning.
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Troika Open New Talks on Kosovo
The international troika of US, EU and Russian mediators said on Saturday that they had opened new talks on the future status of the Serbian breakaway Kosovo province to seek consensus between Serbia and ethnic Albanian-dominated Kosovo.
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AU Urges UN to Finance Hybrid Operation in Darfur
Chairman of the African Union (AU) Commission Alpha Oumar Konare on Sunday urged the United Nations to finance a joint peacekeeping operation of the AU and UN in the western Sudanese region of Darfur.
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Taliban Says Not Releasing Korean Kostages
Afghanistan's Taliban has decided not to free any of 21 South Korean hostages despite earlier saying two women could go, the Korea's Yonhap news agency reported Sunday citing an insurgents' spokesman.
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SCO Anti-Terror Drill Holds Decision-Making Practice
The ongoing "Peace Mission 2007" anti-terror drill, sponsored by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), held a decision-making exercise in its 2nd phase in a military base near the Russian Ural Mountains city on Sunday.
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 Al Qaida Plans Attack on 3 US Cities
Terrorist group al Qaida was planning radioactive truck attacks on Los Angeles, New York and Miami, US authorities confirmed a report on Sunday.
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Bush, Sarkozy Work on Cozier Relations
US President George W. Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Saturday stressed friendship over disagreement at a lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs at the Bush family estate aimed at improving relations strained by the Iraq War.
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 Musharraf Hails Joint Peace Jirga a Good Start
Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf said Sunday that the holding of the Pak-Afghan Joint Peace Jirga in the Afghan capital of Kabul was "a good beginning" and it would help ensure peace and security in Afghanistan and the bordering areas of Pakistan.
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China Donates Relief Goods to Bangladesh
The Chinese Defense Ministry donated some relief goods, including 1.2 tons of tablets and 15 machines for water purification to Bangladeshi Defense Ministry to help flood affected areas in the country.
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Lebanese Army Pounds Northern Refugee Camp
The Lebanese army on Thursday used gunships to pound terrorist bunkers in a Palestinian refugee camp and troops advanced across the rubble to uproot Fatah al-Islam militants, the official National News Agency (NNA) reported.
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Musharraf Rules out Emergency
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf rejected calls to declare emergency powers and wants elections to take place in Pakistan, a spokesman said after widespread reports that the beleaguered leader would opt for authoritarian rule.
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Japan's DM 'Says No to Shrine Visit'
Japanese Defense Minister Yuriko Koike "will not visit" the Yasukuni Shrine on August 15, the day Japan surrendered in World War II 62 years ago, Japanese press reports quoted her as saying yesterday.
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Pakistan May Declare State of Emergency
The government of embattled Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said Thursday it may impose a state of emergency because of "external and internal threats" and deteriorating law and order in the volatile northwest near the Afghan border.
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US, Iraqi Troops Kill 30 Insurgents
US and Iraqi troops backed by aircraft killed Wednesday 30 insurgents and detained 12 suspects during a raid on militants in the Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City in eastern Baghdad, the US military said.
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 SCO Anti-terror Drill Gets Underway
The chiefs of staff of armed forces of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries ordered commanders of various troops to launch a long-prepared anti-terror drill "Peace Mission 2007" at noontime in Urumqi on Thursday, following strategic consultations.
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Top Legislator Meets IOC President
Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), met the visiting International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge who was invited to attend celebrating activities of the one-year count-down to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing on Wednesday.
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Nigerian Militants Free 8 Foreign Hostages
Militants freed eight foreign hostages, six Russians, one British and one Bulgarian in Nigeria's southeastern oil-rich Niger River Delta, local police said on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Nigeria's southeastern Rivers State.
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Russia Denies Violating Georgia's Airspace
Russian planes have not violated Georgia's airspace, Russian ambassador Yuri Popov said Wednesday. Meanwhile, Georgia is seeking a special meeting of the UN Security Council to address its missile dispute with Russia.
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 M7 Earthquake Hits West Java
A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 rocked western part of Java Island of Indonesia early Thursday, Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said in Jakarta.
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 Iran to Help in Iraq's Reconstruction
Iran said Wednesday that it was ready to contribute to Iraq's reconstruction and promotion of its security, as Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was making his second visit to Tehran in less than one year.
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US Importers Asked to Share Toy Recall Burden
China said on Wednesday that United States importers and brand owners should take responsibility for recalled toys after it emerged that the US product quality watchdog logged 29 recall cases involving toys made in China in 2006.
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Turkey, Iraq to Cooperate on Energy
Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said on Tuesday that his country will carryout joint works with Iraq on the transfer of Iraqi natural gas to Europe via Turkey.
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Premier Wen Congratulates ASEAN on 40th Anniversary
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao sent a congratulatory letter to Singapore, the country currently chairing the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), on Wednesday to celebrate the bloc's 40th anniversary.
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Haneya Ready to Quit as PM for National Dialogue
Ismail Haneya, prime minister of sacked Hamas-led Palestinian coalition government, Tuesday expressed his readiness to quit the premier post if such a move could help resume dialogue with President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement.
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Iran Rejects Face-to-Face Talks with US
Iran on Tuesday rejected UN nuclear chief's proposal for direct talks with the United States over Tehran's nuclear issue, the official IRNA news agency reported.
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UK Reports Second Outbreak
Britain confirmed a second outbreak of foot and mouth disease in a herd of cattle in southern England yesterday, raising fears the highly damaging animal disease may spread.
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 Russia Demands Investigation into Alleged Violation of Airspace
Russia has demanded an investigation into the reported violation of Georgian airspace by Russian fighters which Tbilisi accused have dropped a bomb near a settlement in the Caucasus country Monday evening, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
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 Six-Party Envoys Discuss Aid for N Korea
Representatives of the six-party talks Tuesday ended their first-day negotiation of the working-level talks on the economy and energy cooperation at the truce village of Panmunjom.
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'Positive Results' Expected from Koreas Summit
China hopes the forthcoming second summit between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and South Korea would lead to positive results, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on Wednesday.
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Hu Heading for SCO Summit
President Hu Jintao will begin a three-nation tour to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Russia August 14-18, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit (SCO) and observe the SCO joint anti-terrorism military drill in Russia, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday.
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Pact with Pakistan to Protect Chinese
On Monday Pakistan and China signed an agreement protecting Chinese nationals from extremists' attacks in Pakistan. A joint task force of senior Pakistani Interior and Foreign Ministry officials and Chinese diplomats in Pakistan will be set up to ensure greater security for Chinese nationals.
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Peace Mission Exercises Get Under Way
Rifles cracked and artillery boomed through the Ural Mountains yesterday as a group of terrorists overran a village, taking hundreds of residents hostage.
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Chinese Shipwreck Crew Safely Arrive in Malaysia
On Monday all five people aboard a fishing vessel that was shipwrecked due to a sudden strong tropical storm in the waters of the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea have arrived in Kuala Lumpur safely.
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Gusmao Named East Timor's Premier
East Timor's independence hero Xanana Gusmao was named prime minister yesterday, inciting fresh violence a year after clashes between security forces drew the tiny nation to the brink of civil war.
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Olmert and Abbas Meet in Jericho
Ehud Olmert yesterday became the first Israeli prime minister to visit a Palestinian town since the outbreak of fighting seven years ago, meeting under heavy guard with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jericho to talk about the creation of a Palestinian state.
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By-Election Highlights Christian Disunity
Lebanon's Christians emerged yesterday from a by-election split down the middle after opposition leader Michel Aoun's candidate narrowly beat former President Amin Gemayel, a pillar of the Western-backed government.
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Darfur Rebels Reach Common Position
Darfur rebel factions meeting in Tanzania have reached a common negotiating position for final peace talks with the Sudanese government which they want to hold within three months, international mediators said yesterday.
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 Japan Mourns Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Anniversary
Japan marked the 62nd anniversary of Hiroshima's atomic bombing with a solemn ceremony yesterday as the city's mayor criticized the United States for refusing to give up its nuclear weapons program.
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DPRK to Get '50,000 Tons of Heavy Oil This Month'
China will send 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the middle of this month under the aid-for-disarmament pact, Yonhap news agency of the Republic of Korea (ROK) has said.
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Ministers' Resignation Rejected
Iraq's prime minister yesterday rejected the resignation of Cabinet ministers from the country's largest Sunni Arab bloc, and asked the six ministers to rejoin his government.
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US House Approves US$459.6 Bln for Defense
The US House of Representatives early yesterday approved more money for the Pentagon but not the unpopular Iraq War, which is expected to be the subject of a major legislative clash this fall.
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 Bangladeshi Flood Death Toll Reaches 120
With 36 fresh deaths, current monsoon floods that brought havoc to crops and infrastructure in Bangladesh claimed 120 lives till Sunday morning, officials in the relief ministry said.
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 Afghan President Begins Visit to US
US President George W. Bush welcomed Afghan President Hamid Karzai who arrived at Camp David, a presidential retreat of the United States on Sunday.
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S Korea Denies to Give Ransom to Taliban
The South Korean government has never paid money to Taliban militants for the safe of South Korean hostages, said South Korean Presidential Spokesman Cheon Ho-seon on Friday.
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Terrorism in Spotlight As Forum Ends
Asia-Pacific foreign ministers wrapped up their annual security summit yesterday adopting a cooperation framework to help the fight against terrorism in the region.
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Five Nations Pledge to Back Darfur Force
Five African nations pledged yesterday to send peacekeepers to a mission in Sudan's troubled Darfur region that was approved this week by the UN Security Council, a top African Union (AU) official said.
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Bulgaria Forgives US$56.6 Mln of Libyan Debt
The Bulgarian government agreed yesterday to forgive US$56.6 million in Soviet-era debt owed by Libya and said the money would instead be paid into an international fund to help Libyan HIV/AIDS victims.
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DPRK Asks US to Erase It from Terror List
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) demanded yesterday the United States remove it from a list of states that sponsor terrorism before further progress can be made on dismantling its nuclear program.
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Russian Sub Plants Flag under North Pole
Russian explorers dived deep below the North Pole in a submersible yesterday and planted their national flag on the seabed to stake a symbolic claim to the energy riches of the Arctic.
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 Search for Missing in Bridge Collapse
Authorities said they uncovered more bodies yesterday from the wreckage of a US highway bridge that collapsed into the Mississippi River during Wednesday evening's rush hour. So far four people were confirmed dead, 79 were injured and more than 20 people were missing.
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UN Calls upon Chinese Media to Reduce HIV Stigma
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has called on China's commercial media and other private businesses to make greater efforts in combating HIV-related stigma and discrimination in China.
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 Rice Fanfares 'Mutual Opportunities' in Mideast Peace
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Thursday wrapped up her about 24-hour trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories, ending the mission, as what she had put, to take advantage of "mutual opportunities" to advance the two-state solution.
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Rice Wins Saudi Support for Mideast Conference
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice won yesterday a Saudi pledge of support for a US-backed Middle East peace conference and began a visit to Israel and the West Bank with a call to seize new opportunities.
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China Welcomes UN Troop Deployment in Darfur
China has hailed the United Nations Security Council resolution which makes official the deployment a UN-African Union (AU) hybrid peacekeeping force in Sudan's western region of Darfur, and expects that all parties will aid the implementation of the resolution, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao on Thursday.
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Sudan Approves UN-AU Hybrid Operation in Darfur
The Sudanese government announced on Wednesday its approval of UN Security Council Resolution 1769 on a hybrid peacekeeping operation to be jointly conducted by the Uniterd Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) in the country's western region of Darfur.
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Afghan Forces Warn of Assault; Taliban Demands Rejected
Afghan army warned the Taliban of an assault to rescue 21 South Korean hostages, whose captors said were still alive after another deadline expired. Meanwhile, Berlin rejected again Taliban's demand to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, after Al-Jazeera television broadcast a video of a German hostage.
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 Sunni Bloc Quits, Baghdad Bomb Attacks Kill 79
Iraq's largest Sunni political bloc announced it has pulled out from the government on Wednesday as a series of bomb attacks in Baghdad killed at least 79 people and wounded more than 100 others.
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 Abe Sacks Minister, Clings to Job
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, seeking to soothe voter outrage over political corruption that contributed to a devastating election loss, sacked his scandal-tainted farm minister yesterday.
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Congress Unveils China-related Legislative Package
US lawmakers from the House of Representatives on Wednesday presented a bipartisan legislative package that would extend the remit of US engagement with China and increase American competitiveness in the global marketplace.
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Hu Stresses Value of Sino-US Dialogue
President Hu Jintao reiterated the importance of maintaining stable and mutually beneficial Sino-US economic relations, urging the two sides to make full use of the strategic economic dialogue (SED) to address issues of common concern.
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Chinese Ambassador Attacks Chen Separatist Tactics
China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya on Wednesday denounced Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's second letter to the United Nations relating to Taiwan's membership bid, dismissing it as another "petty trick" by an "international troublemaker."
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Chinese Student Beaten Up at Home in NZ
An investigation has begun into the motivation for what appeared to be a racially-motivated attack upon a Chinese student in his house in the Christchurch suburb of Riccarton, New Zealand police said Wednesday.
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Fujimori to Return to Peruvian Politics
Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori said he hopes to return to politics in Peru after losing his bid to win a seat in Japan's parliament, Peruvian media reported Tuesday.
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Report: Israel Resumes Contacts with PNA
Israel has decided to renew contacts with the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) representatives abroad following the formation of the Salam Fayyad-led Palestinian government, local Ha'aretz said on Tuesday.
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Three Killed in Somalia as Violence Escalates
At least three people have been killed and nearly four others were wounded overnight when a strayed artillery shell hit their homes in Beledweyn, the provincial capital of Hiran in central Somalia, residents in the region said Tuesday.
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Iraqi PM Faces Revolt Within Own Party
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki faces a revolt within his party by factions that want him out as Iraqi leader, according to officials in his office and the political party he leads.
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Brown's Stolid Performance Gets Good Reviews
Gordon Brown is so often criticized as dull and distant that even US President George W. Bush felt he could poke fun at the new British leader over his reputation as a "dour Scot" during their joint news conference.
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Dozens Poisoned by Relief Food in Iraq
Dozens of Iraqis were transferred to hospitals in the capital of Anbar province after eating suspected toxic foodstuffs distributed as part of relief efforts, a provincial police source said on Tuesday.
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Rice, Gates on Rare Joint Mideast Tour
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates joined forces in the Middle East Tuesday to push Arab allies to do more to stabilize Iraq and counter the rise of Iran.
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UN Approves 26,000 Troops for Darfur
The UN Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a resolution authorizing a 26,000-strong joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur, Sudan.
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 Ties with ASEAN to Be Strengthened
China will work more closely with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by setting up a free trade area and deepening its partnership in finance, infrastructure, information and communications, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in Manila yesterday.
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 Wu Yi: China Poses No Economic Threat
China will never constitute an economic threat to any nation nor does it have the power to be, Vice-Premier Wu Yi told visiting US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who hailed the US-China strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) as a crucial cog in the bilateral economic relationship during their meeting yesterday.
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Taliban Issues New Deadline for S Korean Hostages
The Taliban has once again issued a deadline for remaining 21 South Korean hostages, which would last until 12:00 PM (07:30 GMT) on Wednesday, a purported Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said Tuesday.
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IAEA Visits Iran's Nuclear Site
Inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog conducted a five-hour visit to Iran's heavy-water reactor site at Arak yesterday, the official IRNA news agency said, the first such visit there since April.
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ASEAN to Set up Human Rights Body
The 40th Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) Ministerial Meeting (AMM) closed in Manila Monday with foreign ministers' agreement to include in the ASEAN Charter a provision that mandates the creation of a human rights body.
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Musharraf, Bhutto Forging Alliance
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's secret rendezvous with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi last week has left Pakistan guessing what kind of an alliance is being hatched with elections months away.
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Russian FM Expresses Support for Abbas
Moscow gave Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas its strongest vote of confidence since last month's takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas when the Russian foreign minister told Abbas Monday that he was the legitimate leader of the Palestinians.
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Militants Re-establish 'Red Mosque'
Pro-Taliban militants seized control of a shrine in northwestern Pakistan and renamed it after Islamabad's Red Mosque, while seven people died in violence Monday near the Afghan border, officials said.
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Bush, Brown Come up with United Front
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told US President George W. Bush Monday he shares the US view that there are "duties to discharge and responsibilities to keep" in Iraq.
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 Paulson Impressed by Green Efforts
US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson saw for himself yesterday efforts to reverse environmental degradation around China's largest inland saltwater lake, taking the spotlight off currency tensions for a day.
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 2nd Korean Hostage Killed by Taliban
Taliban fighters killed another South Korean hostage held in Afghanistan on Monday night, a purported Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi revealed from an undisclosed location.
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Rights Talks with Australia
Delegates to the 11th China-Australia Human Rights Dialogue yesterday updated each other on the progress the two countries have made and discussed in detail how to provide legal protection to minority ethnic groups, women, children and the physically challenged.
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Bush Meets UK's New PM
US President George W. Bush met with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Camp David Sunday evening with the two sides are expected to discuss issues including Iraq, Darfur, Iran and Kosovo.
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New Threat to Kill S Korean Hostages
Taliban militants threatened yesterday to kill some of their 22 South Korean hostages if there was no progress by noon today on their demand for the release of eight jailed rebels.
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 Israel Not Opposed to Arms Deal
In a significant departure from past Israeli policy, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert posed no objections yesterday to a new US plan to sell state-of-the-art weaponry to Saudi Arabia and other moderate Arab states, saying Iran was the common enemy.
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 Japanese PM Suffers Major Setback
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe got a jolt yesterday as his conservative ruling camp suffered a devastating, but expected, defeat in upper house elections.
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US Treasury Secretary Arrives in China
US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson arrived in Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province Sunday evening, kicking off his "environmental tour" in the country.
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Suicide Bombing Kills 13 in Islamabad
Up to 13 people died and 61 others suffered injuries in a suicide bombing on Friday in the Pakistani capital, Interior Ministry Spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said at a news conference.
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 Radical Students Occupy Red Mosque
Police fired tear gas, trying to disperse hundreds of religious students who occupied Islamabad's Red Mosque on Friday and demanded the return of its pro-Taliban cleric, two weeks after an army storming that left over 100 dead.
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Remaining Korean Hostages 'Still Alive'
The remaining 22 South Koreans held hostage in Afghanistan are alive, a Taliban spokesman said on Friday, and the group will not set further deadlines as it negotiates with the government on freeing them.
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Chinese Woman Killed in Liberia
A woman from Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality has been killed in a robbery in Liberia, Chinese media reported on Friday.
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Iraq Calls for End of Abuse of Its Refugees
Iraq yesterday urged countries hosting more than 2 million Iraqi refugees who have fled violence at home to stop mistreating those arriving at their borders and avoid their forcible return until stability returns.
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Kosovo to Hold General Elections in November
Kosovo's top leaders and the UN mission chief agreed on Thursday that parliamentary and local elections in Kosovo would be held in November as envisaged by the law, said reports reaching Belgrade from Kosovo.
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High Noon for Korean Hostages With New Deadline
The Taliban has extended the deadline for negotiations surrounding 22 South Korean hostages until 12 PM (07:30 GMT) on Friday, said its spokesman on Thursday. Meanwhile, Seoul has sent a senior envoy to Afghanistan to help ramp up rescue efforts.
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Libya Protests over Pardons for HIV Medics
Libya accused Bulgaria Thursday of violating an agreement between the two countries by pardoning six medical workers convicted of intentionally infecting hundreds of Libyan children with HIV.
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 Pakistan Test Fires Cruise Missile
Pakistan Thursday successfully tested a cruise missile capable of carrying a variety of warheads, including nuclear, the military said.
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China Takes Principled Stance on Illegal Arms Trade Accusation
China on Thursday declared its strong objection to US claims that it is involved in the illegal arms trade. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said that China only exports arms to sovereign states and prevented its arms being transferred to third-party countries without the Chinese government's permission. China has also set up a system to clarify the identity of end users of its exported arms.
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 Chinese Troops Reach Drill Site
A contingent of Chinese military officers, soldiers and aircrafts equipped with armaments is expected to arrive on Russian soil today following a 10,300 km journey to participate in a drill.
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22 S Korean Hostages Might Be Released Today: Police
Negotiations on 22 South Korean hostages are going "very well" despite some "technical problems," and they might be freed by the Taliban later Today, Afghanistan's Ghazni provincial police chief Alishah Ahmadzai told Xinhua on this morning.
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International Contact Group Meets in Vienna on Kosovo
The envoys of the Contact Group on Kosovo from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Russia held a meeting in Vienna Wednesday evening to discuss a negotiation framework for the future status of Kosovo.
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Arab Envoys Visit Landmark Israel
Two Arab envoys on a landmark visit to Israel presented its leaders with a regional land-for-peace plan on Wednesday and called for a rapid timetable for talks with the Palestinians over statehood.
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UK, France Soften UN Text on Darfur Force
Britain and France softened a UN resolution on Tuesday that would authorize up to 26,000 troops and police in Darfur by dropping a threat of "further measures" against Sudanese obstructing peace efforts.
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Sarkozy Visits Libya Seeking Deeper Ties
French President Nicolas Sarkozy met Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli on Wednesday evening in his trip to deepen relations with the northern African country.
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 First Female President Takes Office
India inaugurated its first female president yesterday, a move that has been touted as a boost for women in a country where they often face discrimination.
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 Taliban Kill One Korean Hostage
A South Korean woman at a candle light vigil in Seoul yesterday demanding the withdrawal of South Korean troops from Afghanistan and the safe return of kidnapped compatriots.
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US Criticizes Chen's Plans for UN Referendum
A senior US military officer has criticized Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian for statements on the island's "independence," saying they were unhelpful to maintaining peace across the Taiwan Straits.
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Terms Set for Normal Ties with Vatican
The Vatican must sever "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan and stop interfering in China's internal affairs if it wants to normalize ties with Beijing, a leading Chinese Catholic leader said yesterday.
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Taliban Threatens to Kill Some S Korean Hostages
Taliban fighters may kill a few South Korean hostages if the Afghan government fails to meet their demands before 2:00 PM (11:30 GMT) on Wednesday, a purported Taliban spokesman, Yousuf Ahmadi, told Xinhua through telephone from an undisclosed place.
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US Arrest of Top Militant Denied
An Al-Qaida umbrella group in Iraq denied in a statement posted yesterday on a militant website that US troops had captured the highest ranking Iraqi in the leadership of Al-Qaida in Iraq.
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Putin Slams Britain over 'Colonial Thinking' in Row
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday Britain's demand that Russia amend its constitution to extradite a main suspect in the poisoning case of Alexander Litvinenko is "a vestige of colonial thinking."
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Abe Won't Quit After Election, Says Official
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will not resign whatever the results of a July 29 election for parliament's upper house, a ruling party executive said after a string of polls showing the ruling camp was set to lose.
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IAEA to Revisit Iranian Nuclear Site
Iran agreed yesterday to let inspectors from the United Nation's nuclear watchdog revisit its heavy-water reactor site early next week in a push by the UN for more transparency in Iran's disputed nuclear program.
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Negotiations for 23 Koreans in 'Final Stage'
Korean negotiators accompanied by Afghan elders and clerics met face-to-face with the kidnappers of 23 South Koreans yesterday as a threatened Taliban deadline to execute them passed by once again.
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 US: Iran's Aid for Iraqi Militias Rising
Iranian support for militias who are destabilizing Iraq has risen since the United States and Iran held breakthrough talks in Baghdad in May, the US envoy to Iraq said yesterday after a fresh round of discussions.
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 Medics Freed Following Libya-EU Deal
Six foreign medics convicted of infecting hundreds of Libyan children with HIV were freed yesterday after a "full partnership" deal between Tripoli and the European Union ended their eight-year ordeal.
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Foes Circle Musharraf After Defeat over Judge
Pakistani opposition leaders cranked up pressure on President Pervez Musharraf yesterday, after doubts were cast over his re-election plans by the Supreme Court's reinstatement of a judge seen as a symbol of resistance.
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EU to Send Peacekeepers to Chad, CAR
The European Union (EU) member states agreed on Monday to plan a peacekeeping mission to Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) for protection and aid of refugees.
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Bulgarian Nurses, Palestinian Doctor Heading for Sofia
Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor, who were given life sentence in Libya for allegedly contaminating children with the AIDS virus, were on their way to Sofia, capital of Bulgaria, French presidential palace announced on Tuesday.
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Wave of Violence Kills 24 in Iraq
A new wave of suicide attacks and car bombings across Iraq killed at least 24 people and wounded some 60 others on Monday, while Baghdad is preparing to host a second round of talks between the US and Iran on Iraqi security.
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 Blair Launches 'Mission Impossible'
Tony Blair landed in Israel yesterday for his first visit as an international envoy, hoping to help end 60 years of peacemaking failure since Britain handed Palestine to Jews and Arabs who are still fighting over it.
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More Food Safety Info to Be Shared
Chinese and European Union (EU) quality control officials yesterday agreed to share more information on seizures of substandard consumer products and strengthen law enforcement to better combat unsafe goods.
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US and Iran to Hold New Meeting on Tuesday
US and Iran will hold a new round of talks on Tuesday in Baghdad to discuss the deteriorating security situation in Iraq, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said on Sunday.
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Ruling Party Wins Turkish Election
Turkey's ruling party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), garnered 46.6 percent of the total votes in Sunday's national legislative elections, amounting to 342 seats in the 550-member Parliament, adequately enabling it to form a single-party government in coming days, according to the preliminary result.
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UN Suspends Moroccan Troops in Cote d'Ivoire
The United Nations has suspended a Moroccan military contingent from its peacekeeping mission in Cote d'Ivoire while it investigates allegations of widespread sexual abuse, the world body said on Saturday.
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 26 Poles Killed in Bus Crash
Twenty-six Polish pilgrims died yesterday when their coach crashed off a mountain road at a notorious accident blackspot in the French Alps and burst into flames, police and officials said.
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China to Provide 100 Mln Yuan to Bangladesh
China has reached an agreement with Bangladesh to provide 100 million yuan (US$13.2 million) in economic assistance. According to documents signed on Sunday, 80 million yuan (US$10.5 million) will be earmarked as non-reimbursable assistance and the remainder as an interest-free loan.
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Russia, NATO to Discuss CFE, Missile Shield in Fall
Russia and NATO member countries will hold talks this fall on the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE), in which Russia has announced to halt obligation, and on the US-proposed missile shield in Eastern Europe, officials said on Friday.
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Taiwan's UN Bid Censured
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao on Friday slashed Taiwan authorities' application of joining the United Nations in the name of Taiwan, saying the attempt will not succeed.
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US Urged to Treat Chinese Imports Fairly
The Chinese Embassy in Washington has urged the US to treat China's food and drug exports in a scientific and fair manner, saying exaggeration and complication of the issue is not conducive to the healthy development of bilateral trade.
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 Israel Frees 250 Palestinian Prisoners
Israel freed more than 250 Palestinian prisoners on Friday as part of a US-backed deal to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after Hamas Islamists took over the Gaza Strip last month.
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 West Drops UNSC Vote on Kosovo
Western nations announced on Friday that they are not seeking a UN Security Council vote on their draft resolution concerning Kosovo's future status.
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No Disarmament Deadline at Six-Party Talks
The six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue ended in Beijing Friday with all parties agreeing on a next round of negotiation, but without the crucial disarmament deadline.
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FM Sends Condolence on Bomb Attack in Pakistan
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Thursday sent a message of condolence to his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri over the deadly bomb attack in Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan province.
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Thaksin Files Civil Suit Against AEC
Thailand's ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra asked his lawyer to file a civil lawsuit against the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) on Thursday, demanding more than 50 billion baht (US$1.5 billion) from the panel after it froze the family assets worth more than 60 billion baht (US$1.8 billion).
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Brazilian Gov't to Cut Sao Paulo Air Traffic
The Brazilian government will reduce the number of take-offs and landings at Sao Paulo's Congonhas airport, to a maximum of 36 per hour, and reduce air traffic in the region, a government official told media on Thursday, two days after Brazil's worst ever air crash.
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Asbestos Found in Debris of Manhattan Eruption
Asbestos was found in the debris that was spewed forth in a thunderous steam pipe explosion that jolted midtown Manhattan Wednesday, while no asbestos was found in the air, the NYC Office of Emergency Management said Thursday.
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Civilian Killed in Baghdad's Violence, 17 Corpses Found
A civilian was killed and two others were injured, including a senior Iraqi army officer in Baghdad's violence on Thursday, while the Iraqi police collected 17 corpses during the past 24 hours, an Interior Ministry source said.
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 Russia Expels Four British Diplomats
Russia expelled four British diplomats Thursday and suspended cooperation with London on fighting terrorism, as a bitter row over Moscow's refusal to extradite a murder suspect escalated.
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 Hu Calls for United Effort in Darfur
Chinese President Hu Jintao on Thursday reiterated a call for the international community to "seize favorable opportunity" and seek to bring an end to the conflict in Darfur.
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 Six-Party Talks to End Without Disarmament Deadline
The six-party talks aiming to set up a schedule for the permanent dismantling of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) nuclear programs, are expected to end Friday without a disarmament deadline, US chief envoy Christopher Hill said late Thursday as the talks were shrouded in uncertainty.
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At Least 32 Die in Blast in Pakistan
Two bombs exploded in Pakistan on Thursday, one in the south and the other in the northwest, killing at least 32 people. Most of victims were police.
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 Mumbai Building Collapse Toll Rises to 24
A section of a seven-storied building collapsed in Mumbai, India's financial center, with the death toll rising to 24, the New Delhi Television reported on Thursday.
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 Quake City Orders Nuclear Plant to Stay Closed
A Japanese nuclear power plant was ordered to stay closed until safety was assured after an earthquake caused radiation leaks, while the UN nuclear watchdog said the operator had misjudged the risks.
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Top Al-Qaida in Iraq Figure Captured
The US command said yesterday the highest-ranking Iraqi in the leadership of Al-Qaida in Iraq has been arrested, adding that information from him indicates the group's foreign-based leadership wields considerable influence over the Iraqi chapter.
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Palestinian President Will Call Early Polls
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday he would call early elections, harshly denouncing the Islamic Hamas in speech before a PLO body, declaring, "even the devil cannot match their lies."
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Tokyo Court Throws Out Chemical Weapon Case
The Tokyo High Court yesterday rejected a compensation plea by a group of Chinese victims of chemical weapons abandoned in China by the invading Japanese army at the end of World War II.
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 Republicans Shoot Down Senate Iraq Bill
The US Senate on Wednesday downed a Democratic effort that would have set an April 2008 deadline for the removal of all American combat troops from Iraq after a rare all-night debate.
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Musharraf Rules out Emergency
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf yesterday ruled out declaring an emergency amid a rising tide of militant attacks that have killed more than 130 people this month, officials said.
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Huge Steam Explosion Rocks Manhattan, Killing One
A steam pipe exploded in central Manhattan in New York Wednesday, sending vast billows of steam sky-high, scattering debris and killing 1 while injuring around 20 more. According to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the blast was down to a "failure of infrastructure."
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Japan's Nuclear Plant May Be on Fault Line
The fault line that caused Monday's major earthquake in central Japan may extend beneath the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station in Niigata prefecture, Kyodo News said Wednesday.
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China-US Meeting to Resolve Food Safety Row
China and the US will hold a major meeting for five days in Beijing to seek detente over the growing food safety crisis, specifically the recent seizure of four kinds of Chinese seafood exports by the US, a senior Chinese quality control official said Wednesday.
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Al-Qaida May Use Iraqi Base to Attack US
The terrorist network Al-Qaida will likely leverage its contacts and capabilities in Iraq to mount an attack on US soil, according to a new National Intelligence Estimate on threats to the United States.
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Russia Halves Cargo via Estonia as Tensions Rise
Russia's state railways have ordered exporters to halve shipments of refined oil products, metals and coal via Estonia amid renewed political tensions with Tallinn, industry and trade sources said yesterday.
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Bush's Call for Peace Conference Welcomed
Israelis and Palestinians yesterday welcomed US President George W. Bush's proposal for a regional peace conference, but expressed vastly different visions for what the gathering would produce.
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Libya Commutes Bulgarian Nurses' Sentence
Libya's Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has commuted the death verdicts of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor to life imprisonment, Bulgarian media reported on late Tuesday.
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 40 Remains Found from Brazil Jet Crash
Sao Paulo's security authorities said early Wednesday that they had found 40 bodies after a Brazilian passenger plane carrying 176 people crashed into a fuel station at the city's Congonhas Airport, likely killing all the passengers and crew aboard the plane.
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EU to Withdraw Kosovo Issue from UN If No Deal
The European Union plans to withdraw the issue of Kosovo's final status from the UN Security Council if Russia does not accept a resolution within days, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said yesterday.
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Six-Party Talks 'Face No Obstacles'
No new obstacles have emerged on the road to resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the chief US nuclear envoy said yesterday, on the eve of the resumption of the six-party talks in Beijing.
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 China, Turkmenistan Sign Energy Deals
China and Turkmenistan yesterday signed a series of cooperation agreements on trade, technology, education and energy, including two on sharing natural gas products and gas purchase.
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Darfur Meeting Concludes with Call for UN, AU Role
A two-day international meeting on Darfur in the Libyan capital of Tripoli concluded on Monday with the final communique defining the United Nations and the African Union (AU) as the leading players on the issue.
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China Praises Reactor Shutdown as Six-Party Talks Loom
China on Tuesday hailed the shutting down of the Yongbyon nuclear plant in North Korea. Meanwhile, chief negotiators from United States, Russia, Japan, South Korea and North Korea congregated on Beijing ahead of a two-day sitting of the six-party talks aiming to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, due to start on Wednesday.
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Olmert-Abbas Meeting Ends in 'Positive Atmosphere'
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas ended two hours of talks in a "very positive atmosphere" at the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem on Monday, Israeli officials said.
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96 Iraqis Killed in Bombings in Iraq
At least 96 Iraqis were killed and more than 205 others wounded in a string of bombings and mortar rounds attacks in Baghdad and northern Iraq on Monday.
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Japan Quake Causes 9 Death, Nuclear Leak
A 6.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Japan's northwest coast yesterday, killing nine people and setting off a fire at the world's most powerful nuclear power plant and causing a reactor to spill radioactive water into the sea.
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Turkmenistan Gas Deal in the Pipeline
Turkmen President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov will commence a state visit to China today with his agenda likely to focus on speeding up a gas export deal between the two countries.
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Chinese Hostage Released in Niger
A Chinese citizen abducted by Tuareg rebels in Niger on July 6 has been safely released into the care of Chinese officials, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed on Monday in Geneva.
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5 Die, over 500 Injured in Japan's Quake
Five people were killed, over 500 people were injured in a magnitude 6.8 earthquake which rocked Niigata prefecture of central western Japan and surrounding areas on Monday morning.
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US Gov't Rejects Troop Withdrawal Proposal
The US government on Sunday turned down a proposal from two top Republican lawmakers to start withdrawing US troops from Iraq by this year-end, saying it is too early to change its Iraq strategy.
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Waiter Recounts Poisoning of Ex-Spy
The poison that killed former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko was sprayed into his tea, a waiter who served the man's table at a hotel bar said in an interview published in a British newspaper yesterday.
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Peres, 83, Becomes New Israeli President
Elder statesman Shimon Peress took office as Israel's ninth president yesterday at the age of 83, pledging to devote the full seven-year term to realizing his lifelong dream of bringing peace to the Middle East, despite the limitations of the largely ceremonial post.
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Truce over, Pakistan Militants Kill 70
Militants in northwest Pakistan disavowed a peace pact with the government and launched two days of suicide attacks and bombings that killed at least 70 people, dramatically escalating the violence in the al-Qaida infiltrated region.
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Bin Laden Video Urges Martyrdom
Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden praises martyrdom as a weapon and a path to glory for Muslims in a video that CNN said on Saturday was intercepted before it was to appear on radical Islamist websites.
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 DPRK Confirms Closure of Nuclear Facilities
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has shut down its only active nuclear reactor, and is ready to start disabling its nuclear programs if the US lifts all sanctions against it, a DPRK diplomat said yesterday.
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Doubts Over Chinese Food Products Unfounded
Two senior quality control officials condemned certain reports appearing in foreign media alleging that some Chinese food products are unfit for human consumption during inspections in Beijing and Tianjin yesterday.
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 Middle-East Envoy Calls for Further Negotiations in Region
China's Special Envoy to the Middle-East, Sun Bigan, met with Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab Affairs Hani Khallaf on Sunday, both of them calling for a return to the negotiating table by all parties involved the Middle East peace process, specifically with regards to brokering a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine.
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IAEA, Iran Make 'Important Steps' in Nuclear Talks
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) deputy head for safeguards Olli Heinonen said on Thursday that his agency's talks with Iran on the latter's nuclear dispute witnessed "some important steps."
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 IAEA Inspectors Head for North Korea
A team of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) left for North Korea on Thursday to verify and monitor the shutdown and sealing of nuclear facilities in Yongbyon, a diplomat in Vienna said.
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US$300 Mln Stolen from Baghdad Bank
Thieves have stolen nearly US$300 million from a bank in Baghdad, police and a bank official said yesterday, in what is probably one of the biggest thefts in Iraq since the 2003 war to topple Saddam Hussein.
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Red Mosque Complex a Ruined Battleground
A day after commandos completed a 35-hour assault that left at least 85 dead, the army guided media around the shattered masonry and blackened interiors of Islamabad's Red Mosque complex yesterday amid lingering questions over how many civilians were killed.
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 Bush Admits Slow Progress in Iraq
The Iraqi government has not yet fully met any of 18 goals for political, military and economic reform, the Bush administration said yesterday in an interim report certain to inflame debate in Congress over growing calls for a US troop withdrawal.
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FM: Six-Party Talks to Resume Next Week
The chief delegates to the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue are to meet in Beijing on July 18 and 19, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang announced at a regular news briefing on Thursday.
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 Suicide Bomber Kills 10 in Algeria
A refrigerated truck loaded with explosives was blown up Wednesday in a military encampment 48 miles southeast of Algiers by a suicide bomber. The blast killed 10 soldiers and wounded up to 35, a security official said.
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26,000-Member Force Proposed for Darfur
Britain, France and Ghana Wednesday circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution, authorizing the deployment of a joint African Union (AU)-UN peacekeeping force of up to 26,000 troops in Sudan's Darfur region.
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Multiple Suicide Bomb Attacks Kill 21 in W Baghdad
Multiple suicide bomb attacked the house of a Sunni tribal leader during a gathering in a town near the city of Fallujah Wednesday, killing at least 21people and wounded some 50 others, local police and medical sources said.
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Chile Rejects Extradition of Fujimori
A Chilean court on Wednesday rejected Peruvian government's request to extradite former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, saying Peruvian prosecutors had failed to demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt Fujimori's involvement in death squads and corruption.
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73 Dead After Red Mosque Operation
73 bodies were recovered on Wednesday from within the Lal Masjid mosque complex after the fighting subsided, the military said. Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that operations against militants inside the mosque had ended successfully.
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Four Get Life Term for London Bomb Plot
A British judge sentenced four Al-Qaida-inspired bomb plotters to life in prison Wednesday for their "very nearly successful attempt at mass murder" on London's transit system in 2005, two weeks after suicide bombers killed 52 commuters in the city.
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 Sri Lanka Gov't Troops Capture Rebel East
Sri Lankan troops have driven Tamil Tiger fighters from their last stronghold in the island's east, the military said yesterday, but the rebels vowed to carry on with a guerrilla-style war.
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 Singapore Trade Ties to Get a Boost
China and Singapore have agreed to strengthen cooperation in several areas, including the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The two sides also agreed to set up an "Eco-City" in China.
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 IAEA Seeks Nuclear Answers
A team from the UN nuclear watchdog led by its second-in-command held talks in Teheran yesterday seeking details about Iran's offer to answer unresolved questions about its disputed nuclear program.
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Blair Seeks Broader Mideast Role: Diplomats
Tony Blair is pushing for a broader mandate in the Middle East that would give him a more direct role in peacemaking, expanding the limited envoy job that world powers gave him last month, diplomats said yesterday.
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US Navy Sends 3rd Carrier to Gulf Waters
The US Navy said yesterday it had sent a third aircraft carrier to its Fifth Fleet area of operations, which includes waters close to Iran, whose row with the West over its nuclear plans has stoked regional tensions.
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Olmert Does Not Want Gaza, W Bank Division
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said yesterday he does not want Palestinians divided into two separate political entities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, where the Islamist group Hamas seized control last month.
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 Pakistan Troops Storm Mosque, Kill Rebel Cleric
Pakistani forces broke a week-long siege around the Red Mosque in Islamabad and stormed the complex, killing a rebel Islamist leader and more than 50 of his militants yesterday after 15 hours of fighting. TV reports indicate that 134 people have so far been secured.
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Three Projects to Be Launched with Syria
China and Syria will launch three joint oil projects in the Middle East country, including an oil refinery for US$1 billion, said Syrian Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah al-Dardari when meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday.
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 EU Supports French Nominee for IMF
European Union finance ministers chose Frenchman Dominique Strauss-Kahn yesterday as their candidate to run the International Monetary Fund but agreed that after him Europe's monopoly on the job should end.
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Troops Storm Red Mosque, 25 Militants Arrested
Troops stormed the compound of Islamabad's Lal Masjid Mosque, or Red Mosque at dawn Tuesday, prompting a fierce firefight with militants accused of holding scores of hostages, officials said. 25 militants were arrested by Pakistani military during operation.
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Court Accepts Suit Against Thaksin
Thailand's Supreme Court on Tuesday decided to accept a suit filed against the ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife on a controversial land purchase in Bangkok in 2003.
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No Debate About Leaving Iraq, Says White House
US President George W. Bush is not contemplating withdrawing US forces from Iraq now despite an erosion of support among Republicans for his war policy, the White House said yesterday.
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UN Security Council Holds Consultations on Kosovo
The UN Security Council held consultations Monday on issues concerning the situation in Kosovo, but more time is needed to bridge the difference over the future status of the breakaway province of Serbia.
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Kidnappers Free 3-Year-Old UK Girl
Margaret Hill, the three-year-old British girl abducted by gunmen in southern Nigeria last week, was released on Sunday night and returned to her parents. She was unharmed apart from a rash of mosquito bites, and apparently in good spirits as she told reporters on the telephone that she was "fine".
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Negotiations Under Way to End Mosque Standoff
A government delegation led by a former prime minister arrived at the besieged Red Mosque yesterday in an attempt to negotiate an end to the seven-day standoff in the capital, a senior official said.
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 IAEA Approves Nuclear Project Closure Mission
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)agreed yesterday to send monitors to North Korea to verify a shutdown of its atomic bomb program, launching what is likely to be a long and arduous disarmament process.
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 China and Vanuatu Pledge Further Cooperation
Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday met with Vanuatu's president Kalkot Mataskelekele during the latter's state visit to China. During the meeting, Hu Jintao pledged closer cooperation between China, Vanuatu and other Pacific states.
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China, Australia, NZ to Combine for Joint Maritime Drill
China, Australia and New Zealand's navies will come together in September near Australia for their first-ever joint maritime drill. This announcement came out after talks between Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan and Australian counterpart Brendan Nelson on Monday.
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W. House, Congress Showdown Escalates
The Bush administration is urging a former White House political director to ignore a subpoena and not testify before Congress about the firings of federal prosecutors, her lawyer says.
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Abe Defends Farm Minister over Scandal
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe defended his farm minister Sunday against media allegations he had filed false financial statements - the latest blow to his ruling camp ahead of this month's national election.
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Iraqis Dig for Bodies After Blast Kills 150
Iraqis used heavy machines and shovels Sunday to look for bodies in a rubble left behind by one of the deadliest blasts that killed at least 150 people in a northern town as fresh attacks in and around Baghdad killed another 31.
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Rail Links Resume After 42 Years
An Indian train arrived in Bangladesh Sunday on the first trial run before a planned resumption of rail services suspended some 42 years ago.
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 Lal Masjid Crisis Nearing Climax
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf gave the go ahead for a final operation against defiant Lal Masjid militants on Sunday night while a rebel cleric said he and his fighters hoped their deaths would spark an Islamic revolution in Pakistan.
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 Abbas Wraps Up Visit to United Arab Emirates
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wrapped up his two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sunday afternoon after obtaining reassurance of support for his Palestinian National Authority (PNA).
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Ambassador Condemns Attack on Chinese in Pakistan
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui has condemned a violent incident in which Chinese citizens were attacked Sunday evening in the northwestern region of the country. Four people were attacked by unidentified gunmen in Peshawar, resulting in the death of three and serious injuries for the fourth.
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France to Open Consular Office in Shenyang
France will open a consulate general's office in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, in September, French Ambassador to China Herve Ladsous said yesterday.
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China, ROK Vow to Develop Relations
China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) should continue to take a strategic approach to bilateral ties, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said at a meeting Thursday with Iim Chae Jung, speaker of the ROK National Assembly.
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Al-Zawahri Calls for Support in New Video
Al-Qaida's deputy leader sought to bolster the terror network's main arm in Iraq in a new video released yesterday, calling on Muslims to rally behind it at a time when the group is on the defensive, faced with US offensives and splits with other insurgent groups.
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Scholars Want 'Soft Partition' of Iraq
With President George W. Bush's war strategy clouded by limited results and mounting casualties, two scholars are proposing a partition plan that would divide Iraq into three main regions.
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Lal Masjid Militants Clash with Pakistani Security Forces
Militants still present in Lal Masjid complex started on Thursday evening to use heavy artillery against Pakistani security forces and posed great threat to residents in the neighborhood in the capital, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.
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President Hu Meets PES Guests
Chinese President Hu Jintao met Thursday with a delegation of the Party of European Socialists (PES) headed by the party's president Poul Nyrup Rasmussen.
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World Bank Inks Gas Deal
The World Bank has signed its first greenhouse gas reduction agreement in China to develop a landfill gas project.
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FM: China Adheres to Peaceful Development
China's national defense policy that is defensive in nature, and will follow a road of peaceful development, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang Thursday in response to Australia's defense policy paper at a press conference in Beijing yesterday.
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Rasmussen: More Unites EU and China Than Divides Them
"Let us together form the future, and make footsteps on this planet that will benefit our people," said Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, President of the Party of European Socialists (PES), on Wednesday while giving an interview to Chinese media in Beijing.
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Brown Orders Probe of Doctors After Bomb Plot
British police believe they have arrested the main suspects in last week's Al-Qaida-style bomb plot, some of whom appeared in intelligence databases on radical Islamists, sources close to the investigation said yesterday.
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African Leaders Agree to Study Continental Union
African leaders have vowed to speed up the economic and political integration of their continent to pursue the goal of a United States of Africa, but they also agreed to study more closely how to achieve it.
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Palestinians Get First Full Wages in 17 Months
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' emergency government paid Palestinian Authority workers, excluding some 19,000 who report to Hamas, their first full wages in 17 months yesterday.
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US Defense Plan 'Must Be Open'
Visiting Slovakian defense minister yesterday said China's policies have a direct impact on NATO members, and called for transparency in the US missile defense project because it is supposed to be based in neighboring Poland and the Czech Republic.
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 Arab Countries, China to Enhance Cooperation
Arab nations and China will soon forge cooperation across a wide spectrum of fields after the achievements of the ongoing Sino-Arab Cooperation Forum (SACF), Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs of the Arab League Ahmad Ben Hely said Wednesday.
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 Lal Masjid Crisis Defused as 1,200 Surrender
Around 1,200 male and female religious students of hard-line Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, have surrendered to Pakistani authorities in the capital city, an interior ministry spokesman said Wednesday.
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IAEA Works out Arrangement of Verification for Yongbyon Issue
Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on Tuesday referred the 35-nation governing board a report about the arrangement of IAEA for the verification to shut down and seal the nuclear establishments in Yongbyon, North Korea.
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Taylor Appears in Court After Boycott
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor made a surprise appearance at the UN Special Court yesterday after having so far boycotted his trial on charges of orchestrating atrocities in Sierra Leone.
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FM: China Focused on Climate Change, Product Safety
Developed nations should provide more help to developing countries in the form of technology transfers and capital so they can seriously fight climate change, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said yesterday at a regular press conference in Beijing.
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 Japan DM Quits over A-bomb Remarks
Japan's defense minister resigned yesterday over remarks that appeared to accept the 1945 atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, attempting to quell the latest furor plaguing the ruling camp ahead of an election this month.
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 Kim Jong-il Meets Chinese FM
Kim Jong-il, top leader of DPRK, met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Tuesday in Pyongyang. China has worked hard to resolve Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and DPRK hopes to continue to communicate and coordinate with China, Kim said.
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Afghan Justice Conference Held in Rome
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and Afghan President Hamid Karzai took part in the international conference of boosting Afghanistan's justice system which was opened in Italian capital Rome on Monday.
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US Accuses Teheran over Iraq Violence
Senior Iranian leaders know about the operations of Iran's Qods Force in fomenting violence in Iraq, the US military said Monday, in some of the most direct accusations yet against Teheran over the chaos in Iraq.
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Four People Killed in Baghdad, 17 Corpses Found
Mortar barrages and gunfire killed four people and wounded eight others on Monday, while police said they found 17 people in execution-style in the Iraqi capital, an Interior Ministry source said.
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New Arrests over British Bomb Plot, Seven Held
British police arrested two more suspects in a hunt for members of a suspected Al-Qaida cell which rammed a fuel-packed jeep into a Scottish airport and left two car bombs in London, police said Monday.
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Hamas Seizes Alan Kidnappers' Spokesman
Hamas Monday arrested the spokesman of a shadowy group holding BBC reporter Alan Johnston, a move that could give it a bargaining chip to secure the Briton's release.
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Asia Marks Crisis Anniversary
Asian countries put the humiliation of the 1997 financial crisis behind them Monday, arguing they were in a better position to deal with the sort of meltdown that crippled the region a decade ago.
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 Suicide Bomber at Yemeni Temple Kills 9
A suicide bomber blew himself up Monday at the site of an ancient temple popular with tourists, killing seven Spanish tourists and two Yemenis less than two weeks after the US Embassy issued a terror warning about the area.
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 Iran, Venezuela Cement Alliance Against US
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad welcomed the ties of brotherhood that unite his country and Venezuela on Monday, pledging the two nations would stand united against "bullying and expansionist powers", a clear dig at the United States.
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Yang in DPRK to Help Resolve N-issue
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi reached Pyongyang yesterday on a three-day visit to discuss bilateral ties and to try to resolve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.
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Pakistan Frees 50 Indian Prisoners
Pakistani authorities on Sunday freed 50 Indian prisoners from a jail in the port city of Karachi, who will be handed over to Indian authorities at Wahgah border on Monday, an aid group said.
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Ninth AU Summit Opens in Accra
Dozens of African heads of state and government gathered in Accra, the capital of Ghana, on Sunday to discuss the continent's political and economic integration issues.
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EU to Prioritize Ties with China, Russia, Brazil
Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates said on Sunday that during Portugal's European Union (EU) six-month presidency he will give priority to European reform, EU ties with China, Russia and Brazil.
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Iraqi PM Criticizes US Raid on Baghdad's Shiite Suburb
Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Saturday criticized the US military operation in Baghdad's Shiite bastion of Sadr City, hours after the US military killed 26 suspected militants in the capital's eastern neighborhood.
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80 Afghan Civilians Killed by Air Strike
A recent air strike carried out by international troops deployed in the country at least killed 80 Afghan civilians in Gereshk district of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, local police said Sunday.
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IAEA Deputy Chief to Head for Tehran July 11
Iran's nuclear envoy at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Saturday that deputy head of the UN atomic watchdog Olli Heinonen would pay a visit to Tehran on July 11, in order to resolve remaining issue son Iran's nuclear program, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported.
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 Japanese DM Sorry for A-bomb Remark
Japan's defense minister apologized yesterday for comments about the 1945 US atomic bomb attacks on the country that outraged survivors and drew criticism from the ruling bloc ahead of a key election in July.
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US Boosts Airport Security
The United States is satisfied with its current terrorism alert level and acknowledges potential al-Qaida links to the plots in Britain, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said yesterday.
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Five Held for Glasgow Airport Attack
A fifth person was arrested yesterday after a fuel-filled jeep was rammed into Scotland's busiest airport, a terrorist attack that police said was linked to two failed car bombings in London.
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Suicide Bomber Kills 20 in Northeast Baghdad
A suicide bomber blew himself up among a crowd of police recruits in the restive town of Maqdadiyah on Saturday, killing 20 people and wounding 22 others, an Iraqi news channel reported.
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 Bush Tries to Revive Rapport with Putin
US President George W. Bush was hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday at the Bush family's summer home , hoping that applying the personal touch can once again improve frayed relations in one of the world's most crucial partnerships.
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Israel Transfers Tax Funds to Abbas
Israel said yesterday it had begun transferring to the Palestinian Authority some of the hundreds of millions of dollars in tax funds it had frozen for 17 months, hoping to bolster President Mahmoud Abbas while isolating Hamas.
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White House Rejects Senate Subpoenas
The White House, moving toward a US constitutional showdown with Congress, asserted executive privilege yesterday and rejected lawmakers' demands for documents that could shed light on the firings of federal prosecutors.
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Fujimori to Run in Japan Election
Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori will run for a seat in Japan's Upper House elections, he said yesterday, in a decision which could have implications for his extradition case in Chile.
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Brown Unveils New Government
New British Prime Minister Gordon Brown named a rising star and reported critic of the Iraq War, David Miliband, as foreign minister yesterday in a wide-ranging government shake-up.
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 Immigration Bill Shot Down in US Senate
The US Senate Thursday wrote off President Bush's plan to legalize millions of unlawful immigrants, likely sinking any major developments on the issue until after the 2008 elections.
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 Katsav Pleads Guilty to Sex Offenses
Israeli President Moshe Katsav signed an unexpected plea bargain yesterday that ended a year-long investigation into alleged sex crimes by the nation's ceremonial leader, agreeing to resign in a deal that includes no jail time.
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China, Pakistan to Cut Tariffs
China and Pakistan will next month begin reducing tariffs on one another's imports, in line with the two countries' Free Trade Agreement (FTA), according to a senior Chinese trade official.
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EU to Conclude Talks on New Treaty by October
The European Union (EU) has plan to conclude the talks on the new treaty replacing the rejected EU Constitution by October, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in Brussels on Wednesday.
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US Public Support for Iraq War Falls to New Low
Two-thirds of Americans are opposed to the Iraq war, while only about 30 percent say they favor it, the lowest level of support on record, a new poll result released by CNN Wednesday said.
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Former Comfort Women Find Support From Japanese Lawyers
A group of Japanese lawyers who have been helping "comfort women" seek retribution handed a petition on Wednesday to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, saying the government should face up to its past and bestow some dignity upon the wartime sex slaves.
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 Gordon Brown Leads Britain to New Era
Gordon Brown took over as British prime minister Wednesday, ending his long years of waiting for the top job and hopefully opening a new era for the country.
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Quartet Envoys Finish Meeting with No Statement
Envoys of the Mideast Quartet, grouping the United States, the UN, European Union and Russia, wrapped up their meeting on Tuesday after three-hour talks, but did not issue any statement, a UN spokesman said.
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Defense Ministers Meet in Bishkek
Defense ministers from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) met in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, yesterday to discuss regional security and preparations from the upcoming SCO summit.
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Thaksin Won't Return to Face Charges: Lawyer
Deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will not return to Thailand to face corruption charges this week as ordered by police because he fears for his safety, his lawyer said yesterday.
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Compromise Plan Could See Iraq Decentralized
The White House has begun exploring ways of offering the US Congress a compromise deal on Iraq that might involve greater decentralization of the country, The Los Angeles Times reported.
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Abbas Bans All Militia in Palestine
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday issued an immediate ban on all armed militia operating in the Palestinian territories, including those affiliated to his own Fatah movement.
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 Blair to Be Named Middle East Envoy
Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be named today as special envoy for the international diplomatic Quartet on the Middle East with a portfolio focused on Palestinian economic and political reform, a senior US official said.
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Ban: China's Role in Darfur Constructive
The Chinese government has played a "constructive role" in the Darfur issue, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday, stressing that "slow but credible and considerable progress" has been made in recent times.
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Taylor's Boycott Delays War Crime Trial
Judges delayed Charles Taylor's trial on charges of directing atrocities in Sierra Leone Monday after the former Liberian President failed to show up in court, saying he lacked funds for a defense.
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BBC Reporter Shown Wearing 'Explosives Belt'
The family and colleagues of Alan Johnston, a BBC reporter kidnapped by Islamists in Gaza, urged his captors yesterday not to harm him after he appeared in a video wearing what he said was an explosives belt.
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Teheran Invites IAEA to Visit
Iran has invited an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team to Teheran to work on a plan for clearing up suspicions about its nuclear program, an IAEA spokeswoman said on Monday.
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Pyongyang Has Funds, Awaits IAEA Team
North Korea said yesterday it would start implementing a nuclear disarmament deal struck in February and awaits a visit by UN inspectors now that a dispute over its funds frozen at a Macao bank had been resolved.
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 Israel to Release Fatah Prisoners as Hamas Airs Tape of Prisoner
Hamas militants in Gaza posted an audio tape of a captive Israeli soldier online on the Internet yesterday as Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced the upcoming release of 250 Fatah prisoners after a summit with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
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Darfur Summit Ends in Paris
A meeting upon which hope for the future of Darfur rested ended in Paris yesterday, after discussions took in needed political and economical support for the joint United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) mission force in Darfur, refugee assistance, and on widening the Sudanese parties welcomed to the negotiating table.
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 Zoellick Confirmed as World Bank President
Robert B. Zoellick, nominated by US President Bush to become president of the World Bank, gained unanimous approval from the World Bank's board and will take over from Paul Wolfowitz, who was forced to resign after a favoritism scandal.
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World Economic Forum on East Asia Opens in Singapore
The World Economic Forum on East Asia opened in Singapore on Sunday, with participation of about 300 business and political leaders from 26 countries to discuss East Asia's agenda under the theme "The Leadership Imperative for an Asian Century."
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Violence Kills Two, 11 Bodies Found in Baghdad
Two people were killed and five others injured in two attacks in Baghdad on Sunday night, while the police collected 11 unidentified bodies in the capital, a well-informed police source said.
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Two Sunni Blocs Boycott Iraqi Parliament
Two Sunni Arab political blocs decided to boycott the Iraqi parliament unless the sacked Sunni speaker was reinstated, a source from a key Sunni bloc said on Sunday.
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Darfur Players to Meet in Paris, Joint Force Top Agenda
France brings the United States, the United Nations, China and some 15 other nations together for a major conference today aimed at launching a new international drive to end the four years of conflict in Sudan's Darfur region.
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Israeli Cabinet Frees Funds to Boost Abbas
Israel agreed Sunday to begin releasing hundreds of millions of dollars in frozen tax funds to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, part of a package of planned goodwill gestures meant to strengthen the moderate Palestinian leader in his standoff against the Islamic militant group Hamas.
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IAEA Inspectors on Way to Pyongyang
Olli Heinonen, chief inspector of the United Nation's nuclear watchdog, set out for North Korea yesterday to agree details on the return of IAEA inspectors to monitor Pyongyang's promised atomic shutdown.
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 Brown Sets out Agenda for New Gov't
Britain's incoming prime minister, Gordon Brown, vowed yesterday to renew the government and learn lessons from the war in Iraq as he took the helm of the ruling Labor Party from Tony Blair.
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 'Chemical Ali' Sentenced to Hang
Saddam Hussein's cousin, known as "Chemical Ali", was yesterday sentenced to death by hanging for masterminding genocide against Iraq's Kurds in the 1980s, an Iraqi court said.
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New Action Plan Between IAEA, Iran Might Be Drawn
Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said on Friday that the Iranian government would cooperate with the IAEA to draw up a plan of action on how to resolve Iran's disputed nuclear issue.
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7 Chinese Kidnapped in Pakistan
A Chinese couple, five of their female employees, and two men were taken away from their residence in Islamabad early Saturday morning by Lal Masjid students, according to reliable sources.
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NPC to Promote Cooperation with Iraqi Parliament
Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo pledged on Friday the National People's Congress (NPC) will promote friendly exchanges and cooperation with the Iraqi parliament to advance bilateral relations.
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Senior Chinese, US Officials Meet to Discuss Ties
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo on Friday met separately with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley to exchange views on the bilateral relationship and international and regional issues of mutual concern.
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Thai PM Urges Thaksin to Return
Thailand's Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont called on ousted Premier Thaksin Shinawatra to return to Thailand to defend charges against him, insisting that the government is ready to take care of his safety.
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 EU Leaders Reach Road Map Deal on New Treaty
Leaders of the European Union (EU) reached an agreement early Saturday on a draft new EU treaty, after tough and lengthy negotiations and compromises in certain areas, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced after some 20 hours of talks.
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Members Want Doha Round Talks to Continue
All members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have said that they would like the Doha Round of trade talks to continue in Geneva despite a major setback in Potsdam, Germany among the G4 players, trade sources said on Friday.
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25 Civilians Killed in NATO Airstrikes
Taliban militants attacked southern Afghanistan police posts, triggering NATO airstrikes that killed 25 civilians, including three infants and the local mullah, a senior police officer said on Friday.
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Mideast Quartet to Meet in Jerusalem
Representatives of the Quartet of Middle East peacemakers will hold talks on Tuesday in Jerusalem for the first time since Islamic militants seized control of the Gaza Strip, UN and Israeli officials said on Friday.
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N Korea 'Ready to Shut Reactor in Weeks'
The top US nuclear envoy, who just returned from a rare visit to North Korea, said on Friday that Pyongyang was ready to promptly disable its nuclear reactor in weeks and live up to pledges it made in a disarmament deal.
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 China, US Wrap Up 4th Strategic Dialogue in Washington
China and the US concluded their fourth round of strategic dialogue in Washington on Thursday, both delegations having enjoyed this opportunity for frank exchanges on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues of mutual concern.
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Eight Killed in Attack in Mogadishu
Eight people have been killed and an unknown number of others wounded in the Somali capital Mogadishu after a hand grenade was thrown in a crowd at the main Bakara Market shortly before the government announced the imposition of an indefinite curfew, residents said Thursday.
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US, Vietnam Sign Trade, Investment Framework Agreement
The United States and Vietnam on Thursday signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) that will create a platform on which to further expand and deepen bilateral trade and investment ties between the two countries.
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12 Soldiers Killed as US Presses Ahead with Raids
Twelve more US soldiers were killed in the past two days, officials said yesterday, as the US military pressed ahead with one of its biggest operations since the 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.
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Egypt Backs Abbas by Hosting Summit
Closing ranks against Hamas, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has invited the Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian leaders to a peace summit next week, Palestinian and Israeli officials said yesterday.
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 Iraqi Debt Cancelled as China Hosts Talabani
China and Iraq forged closer ties on Thursday by signing four agreements in Beijing, including one waiving some Iraqi debt, during Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's first state visit to China.
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Hill Starts North Korean Visit
Chief US nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill arrived in Pyongyang on Thursday in the latest US effort to convince North Korea to halt its nuclear weapons program.
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Bush Vetoes Stem Cell Bill Again
US President George W. Bush on Wednesday vetoed again a bill to expand federally funded embryonic stem cell research, according to US media reports.
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Lamy Neutral on Sino-US Trade Row
World Trade Organization chief Pascal Lamy yesterday refused to take sides in trade disputes between China and the United States, saying he had to remain neutral.
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Russia Offers Radar Cooperation Plan to US, Azerbaijan
Russia has offered a concrete replacement for the US plan for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe. Instead, Moscow proposes joint usage of the Gabala radar station with the US or with both the US and Azerbaijan, it was revealed on Wednesday.
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Poland Softens Tone; UK Digs in on Summit Eve
Poland softened its public tone on the eve of a crucial European Union summit due to launch negotiations on a reform of the bloc's institutions but Britain angered its partners by trying to gut foreign policy provisions.
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Countries Along Eurasian Continental Bridge to Convene
Delegates from the countries and regions along the New Eurasian Continental Bridge -- a land route which extends almost 11,000-km from the Chinese coast to Rotterdam in the west -- will meet at northwest China's Lanzhou city at the end of this month to discuss regional cooperation.
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Iraqi President Kicks off First China Visit
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani arrived in Beijing Wednesday evening, starting the first China visit by an Iraqi president since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1958.
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 4th Sino-US Strategic Dialogue Starts
The fourth round of a strategic dialogue between China and the United States began in Washington on Wednesday, with the agenda set to be dominated by bilateral relations and frank discussions on global issues of concerning both powers.
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Fatah Decides to Disconnect Ties with Hamas
The central committee of President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement decided on Tuesday to disconnect all ties with Islamic Hamas movement, Fatah said in an official statement.
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Bush, Olmert Seek to Bolster Abbas
US President George W. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday sought to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, calling him a moderate voice and the only true leader of the Palestinian people.
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Tokyo Regrets US Sex Slaves Bill
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday he regrets plans by a US House panel to vote on a resolution demanding Japan apologizes to wartime sex slaves.
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FM: China Proposes Revisal to UN Human Rights Rules
Speaking in Beijing Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China's proposal to alter the threshold of resolutions critical of nation states' human rights records conforms with the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) desire for justice.
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 Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong
A girl jumps into the water during a dragon boat race in Stanley Bay in Hong Kong to mark the annual Dragon Boat Festival June 19. The festival commemorates the tale of the third century B.C. poet in China who hurled himself into a river to protest against the corrupt government.
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Bush Has Video Teleconference with Iraqi Leaders
US President George W. Bush had a 52-minute secure video teleconference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Maliki, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and two vice presidents, White House spokesman Tony Snow said Monday.
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Minister: N Korean Money Not in Russian Bank Yet
The designated Russian bank has not received the funds of North Koreatransferred from a Macao bank, thus hindering an expected step to open fresh nuclear talks, a Russian minister said on Monday.
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Abbas Wins Western Pledges for Aid
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' emergency cabinet, bolstered by Western promises to resume aid, vowed Monday to exert its authority over the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
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Cuba Invited for Talks Despite Contact Freeze
European Union foreign ministers Monday agreed to invite a Cuban delegation to Brussels to explore the scope for a gradual thaw in ties but chose not to end a four-year-old freeze on contacts.
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Australia, US Launch Biggest Military Drill
Australia and the United States launched their biggest joint war games on Monday, with 27,500 troops backed by a US aircraft carrier engaging in exercises aimed at consolidating the allies' military dominance in the Asia Pacific region.
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Gov't Freezes More of Thaksin's Assets
An anti-graft panel Monday ordered 8 billion baht (US$245.7 million) in assets belonging to the family of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra frozen, following up a similar action it took last week.
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 13 Killed in German Coach Accident
As many as 13 people were killed and 30 injured in a coach crash on Monday on an eastern German motorway. The cause of the accident was not clear, police said.
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N. Korean N-plant to Be Shut Down 'Soon'
The chief US envoy for the nuclear disarmament talks with North Korea said yesterday that the country's nuclear facilities could be shut down and inspected by the UN nuclear watchdog in the next few weeks.
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Cypriot Gov't Welcomes UNFICYP Extension
The Cypriot government has welcomed a Security Council resolution to extend the mandate of the UN Peace-Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for another six months.
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Abductors Denies Deal on BBC Reporter, Issue Death Threat
The Palestinian group of the Army of Islam in Gaza on Sunday denied any deal had been reached between the group and any other factions on freeing captive BBC reporter Alan Johnston and even threatened to kill him if their condition could not be met.
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Iran: US Middle East Policies Failed
Iran said on Sunday that the US Middle East policies have failed as the United States has fallen in a quagmire in the region, especially in Iraq, the state-run Arabic-language Alalam satellite television reported.
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Sixty Percent of Baghdad Not Controlled
Security forces in Baghdad have full control in only 40 percent of the city five months into a pacification campaign, a top American general said on Saturday as US troops began an offensive against two al-Qaida strongholds on the capital's southern outskirts.
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Russia Won't Allow US to Use Azerbaijani Radar: Iran
Iran Sunday said it had received indications from Russia's president that he would not follow through with an offer to allow the US to use a radar station in neighboring Azerbaijan for missile defense against Teheran.
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UN Council to Back Darfur Funds
The UN Security Council will recommend that the world body fund a joint African Union-UN peacekeeping mission for Darfur, after receiving assurances it would be controlled by the UN, envoys said Sunday.
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US Hails Pyongyang Invitation to IAEA
Talks and fuel aid aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program could move ahead in coming weeks, a US nuclear envoy said Sunday, welcoming Pyongyang's invitation to UN inspectors.
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 Bomber Hits Kabul Bus, Dozens Dead
A Taliban suicide bomber blew up a police bus in the heart of the Afghan capital on Sunday, killing more than 20 people in the single deadliest bombing to hit Afghanistan since the Taliban were ousted in 2001.
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 Abbas Swears in Emergency Cabinet
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas swore in an emergency Cabinet Sunday and outlawed the militia forces of the Islamic Hamas movement, deepening the violent rupture in Palestinian society.
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Pyongyang's Frozen Funds Transferred
Most of the North Korea funds long frozen in a Macao bank have been transferred, an official said yesterday, raising the prospect of an end to the deadlock stalling a nuclear disarmament deal with Pyongyang.
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 Strike on Iran Will Be Madness: IAEA
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) cautioned yesterday an attack on Iran over its refusal to freeze programs that could make nuclear weapons would be "an act of madness," in indirect warnings to the US and Israel.
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 Abbas Dissolves Palestinian Unity Gov't
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday dissolved the Hamas-Fatah coalition government and declared a state of emergency in West Bank and Gaza Strip.
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Japan Wants to 'Ignore History'
Japanese lawmakers wish to see photographs of Japan's wartime atrocities removed from Chinese museums because they want to avoid facing up to history and repenting for past crimes, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang stated at a press conference yesterday.
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 Annual Trade Talks for EU, China
Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai and EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, leading delegations at Tuesday's annual China-EU trade talks, were able to reach consensus on several issues, including that of textiles, it was revealed yesterday.
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China to Forge Closer Ties With Surinam
China treasures its friendship with Surinam and will promote actions taking bilateral relations "to a higher level," Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Beijing on Wednesday.
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 Al-Qaida Blamed for Mosque Bombing
Suspected Al-Qaida militants blew up two minarets of a revered Shi'ite mosque in the Iraqi city of Samarra yesterday, targeting a shrine bombed last year in an attack that unleashed a wave of sectarian killing.
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 Peres Elected Israel's Next President
As the sole candidate for the second round of presidential election, Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres Wednesday afternoon gained 86 parliamentary votes, which ensured him to become Israel's ninth president.
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Thaksin Is Free to Return: Thai PM
Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is free to return from exile as soon as he wants to challenge graft allegations against him, as well as the seizure of US$1.5 billion in assets, his successor said yesterday.
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 Fatah Quits Coalition Government
Fatah's central committee decided Tuesday night to suspend participation in the Palestinian coalition government with Hamas until infighting has subsided in Gaza.
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 Focus on Iran As IAEA Board Meets
Mounting pressure from the US to impose new sanctions against Iran put Tehran's nuclear program at the focus as the UN's nuclear watchdog convened on Monday.
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Praise for Hu's G8, Sweden Visits
President Hu Jintao's participation at the G8 summit and his subsequent state visit to Sweden were successful and led to productive dialogue, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said yesterday.
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 Daughter of Ex-S Korean Ruler Joins Race for Presidency
The daughter of South Korea's assassinated president Park Chung-hee yesterday launched a bid to be the country's first woman leader in a race dominated by her main challenger for the opposition conservative's nomination.
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Brown Mulls Options on Iraq Mission
Britain's next Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, arrived in Iraq yesterday for what he called a fact-finding trip as he weighs Britain's future involvement in a four-year-old war that is hugely unpopular among Britons.
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Protesters Greet Bush in Rome
Demonstrators clashed with police in central Rome on Saturday as US President George W. Bush wound up a visit to Pope Benedict and Italian leaders.
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Karzai Unharmed in Attack
Taliban militants fired rockets near Afghan President Hamid Karzai in an apparent assassination attempt in central Afghanistan yesterday, but the missiles fell far from their target and no one was hurt, officials and witnesses said.
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 Billion Dollar Deals Signed Between China and Russia
Sunday marked a profitable day for Chinese and Russian companies as a series of contracts were finalized on the sidelines of a major international economic forum, with deals inked from agriculture to car-manufacturing.
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 Deals Inked on Trade and Environment
China and Sweden signed agreements on trade and environmental protection yesterday as President Hu Jintao wound up his visit to the Scandinavian country.
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EC Sets Date for SAA Talks with Serbia
European Commission (EC) announced on Thursday that EC President Jose Manuel Barroso has invited Serbia to resume talks on the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) on 13 June 2007.
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N Korea Missile Launch Draws US Ire
North Korea fired up to two short-range missiles off its west coast Thursday, Yonhap news agency quoted government officials as saying, the second launch in as many weeks, drawing quick criticism from the United States.
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 Developing Nations Urged to Fight Global Warming
President Hu Jintao urged developing countries yesterday to work together to meet the challenges of globalization and to safeguard their shared interests, and appealed to the developed nations to take the lead in cutting carbon emissions.
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Cyclone Gonu Sweeps Oman
Cyclone Gonu pummelled Oman yesterday, halting oil and gas exports for a second day and forcing thousands to flee the coast, but weakened as it moved through the Arabian Sea, a major route for Gulf oil shipments.
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Iraqi VP Calls for More Arab Efforts on Iraq
Visiting Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashimi Wednesday called on Arab countries to make more efforts for restoring peace and security in Iraq, Egypt's official MENA news agency reported.
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Insurgency Mounting in Thai South
The separatist insurgency in Thailand's Muslim-majority south intensified last month, taking the number of people killed since January 2004 past 2,300, a researcher in the region said on Wednesday.
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Abbas-Olmert Summit Put off
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Wednesday called off a summit with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, seeking commitments Israel will release frozen Palestinian funds and take other steps.
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 Hu in Germany for G8 Meet
President Hu Jintao arrived in Berlin last night to attend the outreach session of the Group of Eight (G8) summit slated for tomorrow in Heiligendamm, northern Germany.
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 Castro Stronger in 1st TV Interview
Cuban leader Fidel Castro looked much healthier but shed no light on his future on Tuesday in his first television interview since life-threatening bowel surgery sidelined him from power 10 months ago.
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China, Costa Rica Forge Diplomatic Ties
China and Costa Rica announced on Thursday that diplomatic ties between the nations at ambassadorial level would proceed from June 1, and that a joint communiqué had been signed to this effect.
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China, US Finish Technical Talks on Mega-port Initiative
China and the United States finished hammering out technical details on their mega-port initiative late May, marking a crucial step in the two countries' goal to stop the illegal transportation of radioactive materials, said sources with the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.
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Japan, Australia to Boost Security Cooperation
Japan and Australia agreed Tuesday to strengthen security cooperation in UN peacekeeping missions, joint military drills and other issues, after the two countries' defense ministers met in Tokyo.
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 Russia Not the Enemy, Says Bush
Russia is not an enemy of the United States and shouldn't fear a proposed missile defense system designed to thwart a possible nuclear attack from Iran, US President George W. Bush said Tuesday.
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 Spain Braces as ETA Ends Cease-Fire
The Basque separatist group ETA Tuesday made the fateful decision to end its cease-fire declared last year as it accuses the Spanish government of detaining, torturing and persecuting its members.
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FM: Eviction Allegation Goundless
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu Tuesday poured scorn on a Geneva-based rights group's report that said 1.5 million Beijing residents would be displaced due to the 2008 Olympic Games.
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US Doesn't Back Games Boycott Plan
Washington does not back the suggestion of a boycott of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing to protest China's policy in Darfur, the US State Department said yesterday.
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Indonesia, Timor-Leste Extend Mandate of Truth Commission
Indonesia and Timor-Leste on Tuesday agreed to extend the mandate of the truth and friendships commission (CTF) to another six months to settle the problem of the past of the two country, presidents of the two countries said in Jakarta.
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Signs of Progress as AIDS Conference Opens
AIDS researchers from around the world gather in South Africa Monday amid tentative signs the nation is finally embracing mainstream approaches to fighting the epidemic.
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Putin Supports Longer Tenure for Successors
Vladimir Putin, due to step down as Russian president next year, backs the idea of allowing his successors to serve longer terms in the Kremlin but insists their stay should not be open-ended.
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Germany in Dilemma over Emissions Cut
As Chancellor Angela Merkel seeks to convince world leaders to cut greenhouse gases at a G8 summit this week, one of the biggest brown coal-fired power plants ever built is taking shape in this depressed town of Boxberg.
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 Taylor Boycotts Hague War Crimes Trial
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor boycotted the start of his war crimes trial Monday, saying he would not get a fair hearing at the UN- backed court where he is accused of atrocities in Sierra Leone.
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 President Hu to Speak on Climate Change at G-8
President Hu Jintao will present China's propositions on climate change at the upcoming outreach session of the G-8 Summit, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai said at a press briefing on Monday.
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Nuclear Issue Could Be Settled
Iran Sunday said disputes over its nuclear program could be settled in the coming weeks if the UN Security Council dropped preparations to debate another round of sanctions against the Islamic Republic and turn over its case to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
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Seven Killed in Explosion Against Somali PM's Compound
Seven people were killed and over 10 others wounded when a suicide lorry full of explosives Sunday exploded inside the compound of the interim Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi, in the north of the Somali capital Mogadishu, eyewitnesses confirmed to Xinhua.
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Fighting Continues in N Lebanon
The Lebanese army continued their offensive against the Fatah al-Islam militants, who are holing up in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in northern Lebanon, with heavy pounding throughout Sunday. Meanwhile, the army clashed with Islamic fighters at another Palestinian refugee camp, raising the specter of a possible spreading of violence to other parts of the country.
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Russian FM Visits Disputed Islands
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited two of the four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan Sunday and indicated that Moscow is not ready to give up the disputed territories, news reports said.
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 Hundreds Injured in Riots Before G8 Summit
Clashes between police and anti-G8 demonstrators injured more than 400 police officers during a huge protest against the upcoming summit in northern Germany, authorities said Sunday. Protest organizers said 520 demonstrators were hurt.
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 East Asian Foreign Ministers Meet in South Korea
The Foreign ministers of China, South Korea and Japan converged on Jeju Island, South Korea, on Sunday for a meeting at which they pledged to press ahead with common development and safeguard regional peace and stability.
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Brazilian Police Arrest Most Wanted Drug Lord
Brazilian police on Friday arrested one of the country's most-wanted drug lords and prevented the criminal gang he ruled from carrying out a major operation to take over a "favela" in the northern zone of the capital city.
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China, US to Open Hotline
China will in September finalize issues concerning a hotline with the United States for handling emergency, a senior Chinese military official told the Sixth Asia Security Summit Saturday.
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Gates Envisions Long-term Military Presence in Iraq
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that he envisions some level of American troops in Iraq for a "protracted period of time," possibly under a South Korea-like security arrangement and with the agreement of the Iraqi government.
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 Diplomats 'Impressed' by Ecoagriculture
Dozens of foreign diplomats to China said they were impressed by a Beijing village's use of ecoagriculture during a science and technology tour there Thursday.
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China Urges Early Lift of Russian Ban on Meat, Rice
Chinese agricultural officials appealed in Moscow on Thursday to speed up talks with their Russian colleagues to eliminate bans on each other's agricultural products such as meat, rice and milk at an early date.
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Mass Demonstration Held in Bangkok
Thousands of anti-coup demonstrators rallied in central Bangkok Thursday after the country's Constitutional Tribunal ordered the former ruling party Thai Rak Thai (TRT) to disband in a landmark verdict Wednesday.
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UK Spies Real Killers: Suspect
The man charged by Britain with murdering former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko denied involvement Thursday, saying British intelligence and a self-exiled Russian multi-millionaire were far more likely suspects.
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Syria's Allies Slam UN Tribunal
Lebanon's pro-Syrian president said Thursday a UN tribunal on the killing of a former prime minister could divide Lebanese, echoing broad fears of sectarian strife in a country still haunted by a civil war.
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 Putin: Missile Tests Response to Unilateral Moves
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday the country's recent tests of new ballistic missiles and its possible withdrawal from the Conventional Forces in Europe(CFE) treaty are a direct response to unilateral, ungrounded actions of Western countries in the sphere of missile defense.
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 US Unveils Emission Cuts Strategy
US President George W. Bush Thursday urged 15 major nations to agree on a global emissions goal for greenhouse gases and to reach a consensus by 2008.
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President Hu to Attend Outreach Session of G8 Summit
At the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf, Chinese President Hu Jintao will attend the outreach session of the G8 Summit held in Germany and pay a state visit to Sweden from June 6 to 10.
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Refugees Nearing Dream of Citizenship
Almost 30 years after they fled Vietnam during its war with Cambodia, some 260,000 ethnic Chinese refugees are waiting to be granted Chinese citizenship.
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Panama Importer 'to Blame for Deaths'
A Panamanian importer is mainly culpable for the deaths of up to 100 people last year who used cough syrup which had a toxic chemical as an ingredient, offcials from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said yesterday.
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21st Inter-Korean Ministerial Meeting Opens
The 21st inter-Korean ministerial meeting opened on Wednesday in the South Korean capital city of Seoul, focusing on bilateral relations, North Korean official news agency KCNA reported.
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Troops Search for Abducted UK Citizens
Hundreds of Iraqi and US troops cordoned off sections of Baghdad's Sadr City slum early Wednesday and conducted a series of raids in an apparent effort to find five British citizens abducted from a nearby government building the day before, local residents and police said.
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Peres to Run for Presidency
Israeli Vice-Premier Shimon Peres announced his candidacy Wednesday for president of Israel, an office tarnished by rape and other sexual misconduct allegations against its current occupant, Moshe Katsav.
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 Seven Killed in Helicopter Crash in Afghanistan
A NATO military helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan, killing seven NATO soldiers on board, the military said early Thursday, while the Taliban claimed responsibility for shooting it down.
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Bush, Putin to Meet in Early July
With US-Russian relations under heavy strain, President George W. Bush and President Vladimir Putin will meet July 1-2 in a US sea resort for a wide-ranging discussion of world affairs, the Bush administration officials said Wednesday.
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Don't Politicize Olympics, Official Says
Politicizing next summer's Beijing Olympics not only goes against the Games' spirit but also hurts the feelings of the Chinese people, Wang Guoqing, vice-minister of the State Council Information Office, said Wednesday.
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 Thaksin Party Banned
A Thai court last night disbanded the political party of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra over election law violations.
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MOFCOM Unveils Hi-tech Purchases from US
China's purchasing delegation to the US has signed deals worth US$32.6 billion, including high-tech products such as aircraft engines, the Ministry of Commerce spokesman announced in Beijing on Wednesday.
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EU Ambassador: China's Development 'Encouraging'
The European Union Ambassador to China, Mr. Serge Abou, met with China.org.cn for an exclusive interview in Beijing on Wednesday to discuss issues of trade, cooperation, and cultural exchange. He said the EU is impressed with China's progress in economic reforms, but emphasized that market economy status would depend on the level of implementation of relevant laws and the protection of Intellectual Property Rights.
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EU, Brazil to Establish Strategic Partnership
The European Union will establish a strategic partnership with Brazil next month to make the Latin American country the seventh to enjoy the special ties with the 25-nation bloc, an EU envoy said here on Tuesday.
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Several Westerners Abducted; 10 US Soldiers Dead
Gunmen in police uniforms kidnapped a group of Westerners from a government building in Baghdad Tuesday and 10 US soldiers were reported killed, making May the deadliest month this year for the US military.
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Sheehan Quits as Face of Anti-war Campaign
Cindy Sheehan, whose soldier son was killed in Iraq three years ago, said on Monday she was stepping down from her role as the figurehead of the US campaign against the war.
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New Nigerian President Calls for Ceasefire
Nigeria's new President Umaru Yar'Adua used his inaugural address Tuesday to call for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Nigeria's restive southern oil region, and the main militant group appeared to welcome his overture.
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Russia Tests Multi-Head Missile
Russia successfully test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile Tuesday featuring multiple warheads designed to overcome missile defense systems, the Defense Ministry said.
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Nuclear Impasse Overshadows Talks
The two Koreas tried to mend relations at Cabinet-level talks yesterday, but the North's refusal to act on a nuclear disarmament deal could lead Seoul to delay rice aid promised to its neighbor.
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US Urged to Constrain Taiwan
China has urged the United States to take substantive and effective measures to constrain Taiwan "president" Chen Shui-bian's secessionist activities.
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FM: Developed Countries Should Take Lead on Climate
China on Tuesday urged industrialized nations to play a greater role in combating global climate change, saying China's per-capita greenhouse gas emissions were "less than one third of the level of developed nations."
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Iran Sets Date for Negotiations with EU
Iran's Foreign Ministry said yesterday that its top nuclear negotiator and the European Union's foreign policy chief would meet on Thursday in an effort to explore whether there's room to resume negotiations over Teheran's disputed nuclear program.
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Lebanon Sets Deadline for End to Standoff
Lebanon has given Palestinian mediating groups until the middle of the week to negotiate an end to a deadly standoff between the Lebanese troops and an Islamist militia holed up in a northern refugee camp, local Ya Libnan news website reported on Sunday evening.
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White House Considering Next Steps in Iraq
US President George W. Bush and his top aides have signaled in recent days that they are beginning to look more closely at a "post-surge" strategy that would involve a smaller US troop presence in Iraq and a mission focused on fighting al-Qaeda and training the Iraqi army, The Washington Post reported Sunday.
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'No One Is Immune,' Warns Olmert
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert pledged Sunday to step up attacks on Hamas after a rocket from Gaza killed an Israeli man, and brushed aside efforts by Egypt and Palestinian moderates to negotiate a new truce. "No one is immune," Olmert said of Hamas.
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Iran-US Talks on Iraq Start Today
An Iranian delegation left Teheran on Sunday for Baghdad for talks with the US on Iraq's security, the official news agency reported.
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Serbia Initiates to Open New Stage of Kosovo Talks
The Serbian government sent an initiative to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday for opening a new stage of talks on the status of Kosovo and Metohija, the official Tanjug news agency reported.
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Ethiopia, China Sign US$18.5 Mln Debt Relief Agreement
Ethiopia and China signed in Addis Ababa on Friday a debt relief agreement amounting to US$18.5 million. The agreement was signed by Mekonen Manyazewal, state minister of finance and economic development, and China's Assistant Minister of Commerce Wang Chao.
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Chinese, Russian Parties Vow to Enhance Ties
The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the United Russian Party started a seminar in Moscow on Friday in a bid to exchange views on international situation and promote bilateral ties.
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Iraq Aims for WTO Membership
Iraqi membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) would send a powerful message that the country has emerged from decades of international exclusion under Saddam Hussein and is on the path to economic development, its trade minister said on Friday.
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N Korea Conducts Guided Missile Test
North Korea fired several short-range guided missiles into the sea off its east coast on Friday in an apparent test launch, South Korea officials and media reports said.
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Israel Seizes 33 Hamas Leaders, Bombs Gaza
Israeli forces seized a Palestinian cabinet minister and 32 other officials in the occupied West Bank and launched air strikes in the Gaza Strip Thursday, stepping up a campaign against Hamas Islamists.
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Bush Urges Tougher Sanctions on Iran
US President George W. Bush pledged Thursday to work with allies to strengthen sanctions on Iran after a UN watchdog agency reported that Teheran was accelerating its nuclear enrichment program in defiance of international demands.
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Missile Shield Talks Start
Poland and the United States opened talks Thursday about a plan to build a US missile shield, with Polish officials saying they would seek favorable terms for hosting part of the project.
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 Bush Meets Vice-premier Wu Yi
US President George W. Bush met Thursday morning at the White House with Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi, who led a Chinese high-level delegation for the second meeting of China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED).
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Relations with Germany Set for New High
President Hu Jintao and visiting German President Horst Kohler yesterday pledged to increase bilateral collaboration in all areas to take the Sino-German partnership to a new high.
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More Efforts Urged to Resolve Iran Nuclear Crisis
China said yesterday that a UN report showing Iran's uranium enrichment program was gathering momentum, instead of being suspended, was objective and urged all parties to strengthen efforts to unravel the stalemate.
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 Siberian Mine Blast Kills 38
A methane explosion killed 38 people at a Siberian coal mine Thursday, just weeks after 110 miners died in a blast at a neighboring mine operated by the same company.
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IAEA: Iran Extends Nuclear Program
Iran still defied Resolution 1747 of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and expanded its uranium enrichment program, said the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the UNSC on Wednesday.
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China and Japan Gas Explorations Talks to Begin
China and Japan will begin consultations anew tomorrow to try and resolve the ongoing dispute about gas exploration rights in the East China Sea. The talks, seeking to draft a joint development proposal before the autumn, should give body to the consensus reached by Premier Wen Jiabao and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Japan last month.
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 Curtain Falls on China-US Second Economic Dialogue
China and the United States on Wednesday ended a key economic dialogue n Washington in a spirit of agreement. In her closing statement at the US-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi praised the new consensus seen between the two countries and the positive results that were achieved.
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 China Pledges Full Investigation into Tainted Toothpaste
The Chinese government on Wednesday promised to release the findings of an investigation into an alleged "contaminated toothpaste" incident as soon as possible. About 50 tubes of toothpaste labeled "Excel and "Mr. Cool" were pulled off the shelves of a store in Panama City and experts confirmed that 2.5 percent of the toothpaste was made up of the chemical diethylene glycol.
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 US Warships Put on Show of Force
The largest daytime assembly of US warships in the Gulf since the 2003 Iraq War prepared yesterday to hold drills off Iran's coast in a major show of force that unnerved oil markets.
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UN Likely to Report Against Iran
Atomic inspectors are expected to report today that Iran has not only ignored an imminent UN deadline to stop enriching uranium but markedly expanded the program, exposing Teheran to broader sanctions.
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Car Bomb Kills 25 in Baghdad
Nuri al-Maliki's failure to stabilize Iraq was underlined Tuesday as a car bomb ripped through a packed outdoor market in southwestern Baghdad, killing 25 people and injuring 60 others, police said.
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 Man Accused of Murdering Ex-KGB Spy
British prosecutors accused a former KGB agent of murder Tuesday in the radioactive poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko and asked Russia to extradite him. Russian prosecutors quickly refused.
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Mottaki: Iran Ready to Show Flexibility in Nuclear Talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Iran is ready to show flexibility in nuclear talks with Western powers in order to reach an agreement acceptable to all sides, the state-run Arabic television Alalam reported Monday.
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Israel Pounds Gaza, Threatens to Kill Hamas Leaders
Israel stepped up air attacks in the Gaza Strip Monday, killing at least five Palestinians, and a senior Israeli cabinet minister said all Hamas leaders involved in cross-border rocket fire could be targeted.
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Fighting Rages on in Lebanon
Battles engulfed a Palestinian refugee camp in north Lebanon Monday and the death toll from two days of fighting between the Lebanese army and Al-Qaida-inspired militants climbed to 71.
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US Embassy in Iraq Under Scrutiny
When the idea of building a new US embassy in Baghdad was first mooted by the American administration in the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq, there seemed to be a grandiose logic to it.
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 Bush Meets With NATO Chief, Discusses Afghanistan
US President George W. Bush addressed sensitive topics such as Afghanistan, NATO's enlargement and efforts to deploy a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe with visiting NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Crawford, Texas on Monday.
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Body Recovered from Sunken Korean Ship
Chinese divers on Monday evening recovered the body of one of the sixteen missing sailors from a Korean vessel which sank off the coast of Shandong a week ago after colliding with a container ship.
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Israeli Strike Kills Eight
Eight Palestinians were killed and up to 12 wounded in an Israeli air strike on a family compound of a senior Hamas lawmaker in eastern Gaza city Sunday evening.
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Romanians Reject Bid to Impeach President
Romanians overwhelmingly rejected an attempt to impeach the country's reform-minded president, an official said Sunday, with near-complete referendum results showing about three-fourths of voters backing the embattled leader.
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Horta Sworn in as Timor-Leste's New President
Jose Ramos-Horta Sunday sworn in as Timor-Leste's second president since the country got independence five years ago in Dili, vowing to bring peace and prosperity to the people of the desperately poor nation.
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African Foreign Ministers to Meet in Kenya
Foreign Ministers from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) are due to meet in Nairobi on Monday ahead of the Heads of State and Government Summit the following day.
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No Regrets, Blair Tells Iraq
Britain's Tony Blair, on his last visit to Iraq as prime minister, said on Saturday he had no regrets about his part in the US-led invasion that removed Saddam Hussein.
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 38 Dead as Battles Erupt in Lebanon
Lebanese troops battled Al-Qaida-linked militants based in a Palestinian refugee camp Sunday and 38 people were killed in Lebanon's bloodiest internal fighting since the 1975-90 civil war.
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 Wu Tours Sino-Egyptian Joint Aircraft Plant
China's top legislator Wu Bangguo toured a Chinese-Egyptian joint training aircraft project in Cairo on Sunday, a program which highlights the strength of Sino-Egyptian relations.
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 China, Vietnam Agree to Address Border Issue
China and Vietnam yesterday vowed to address border issues and maintain peace and stability in the frontier areas. The pledge was made during a meeting between President Hu Jintao and his visiting Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Minh Triet.
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 Sarkozy Sworn in as French President
Nicolas Sarkozy succeeded Jacques Chirac as French president yesterday in a simple ceremony, where he promised to unite France and restore national pride.
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Consultations to Handle US IPR Complaints
China will hold consultations with the United States over complaints about intellectual property rights next month and start a high-level economic dialogue with Japan this year, according to a senior trade official.
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 African Development Bank Opens Annual Meetings in Shanghai
The African Development Bank (AfDB) on Wednesday opened its annual board meetings in Shanghai, a move widely seen as bolstering China-Africa cooperation. In his address to the opening ceremony, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the current annual meetings would surely boost the AfDB's growth, strengthen its role, and increase its influence.
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 Au Revoir Jacques: Chirac Bids Adieu
French President Jacques Chirac ended his last full day in office yesterday with a farewell address to a nation he has led for 12 years, and that he left in a state of malaise about its place in the global economy and world affairs.
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Premier Calls for Early Darfur Peace Talks
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, speaking in Shanghai on Tuesday afternoon, outlined his view that the Darfur issue now stands "at a crucial moment" and that relevant parties should enter political peace talks as quickly as possible.
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China Allocates US$8 mln for African Health Aid
The Chinese government has agreed to donate US$8 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) for supporting health care in African countries, Chinese Health Minister Gao Qiang said in Geneva on Tuesday.
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 Russia-US Ties Not Easy, Says Rice
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday that it is "not an easy" time in Russia-US relations, but that the tensions do not amount to a new Cold War.
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Japan Takes First Step in Revising Pacifist Charter
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe scored a victory in his drive to rewrite Japan's pacifist constitution and ease its limits on military action overseas when parliament yesterday enacted a law outlining steps for a referendum on revising the post-World War II charter.
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EU, UNDP Join in Effort to Strengthen Rule of Law
The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) signed an agreement in Beijing yesterday to support an initiative to strengthen the rule of law and development of civil society in China.
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 Karachi Political Street Violence Leaves 37 Dead
The Pakistani government authorized paramilitary troops to shoot anyone involved in serious violence in Karachi yesterday, where 37 people have been killed over the past two days, an official said.
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 Taliban Commander Dadullah Killed
Mullah Dadullah, the Taliban's top operational commander in southern Afghanistan, was killed during a clash with Afghan and western forces in Helmand province, Afghan officials said yesterday.
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 China Takes Africa Into Space
Monday morning saw a new chapter of the conquest of space be written as China launched a communications satellite for Nigeria, a seemingly innocuous event which in fact represented the first such launch for Africa and the inaugural space piggy-back ride given by China to a foreign nation.
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Chinese Man Wanted for Embezzlement Extradited from Japan
A former head of a Chinese state-owned enterprise, who fled to Japan three years ago after coming under suspicion of embezzling public funds, was extradited to China on Thursday, the anti-corruption bureau of the Supreme People's Procuratorate said.
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S.Korea, DPRK Agree to Guarantee for Railway Test
South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) wrapped up their general-level military talks Friday with a joint statement promising security guarantees for railway tests across their border and taking tension-easing measures.
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Over 3,000 Flee Island Wildfire near Los Angeles
Over 3000 residents and tourists have fled a Pacific island near Los Angeles while firefighters from the mainland began to battle the second major wildfire in Southern California this week, officials said Friday.
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Generals Put First Rail Run on Track
Generals from North and South Koreas Thursday agreed on the first train crossings over their heavily armed border in more than 50 years, a move long sought by Seoul as a symbol of reconciliation.
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 Horta Wins Timor-Leste Presidential Election
Nobel Peace Laureate Jose Ramos-Horta became Timor-Leste's next president after claiming Wednesday's presidential run-off, national election commission spokesperson Maria Angelina Lopes Sarmento announced on Thursday.
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 Blair Bows out After 10 Years in Power
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Thursday he will step down as prime minister on June 27, more than 10 years after winning power in what was hailed as a new dawn for Britain that has since been darkened by the Iraq war.
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Poverty Reduction Uniting East Asia
A regional body has proposed the creation of an online platform to be used for supervision and analysis of poverty alleviation measures among East Asian nations.
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Four Iraqi Journalists Shot Dead in Northern Iraq
Four Iraqi journalists, including director of a local media organization, were shot dead by gunmen on Wednesday near the northern Iraq city of Kirkuk, some 250km north of Baghdad, local police source said.
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Demands Issued for Abducted BBC Reporter
A little-known Islamist group claimed responsibility in an audio recording Wednesday for abducting the BBC's Gaza correspondent, issuing demands immediately rebuffed by the Palestinian government.
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Four Chinese Mugged in US County
Four Chinese were mugged in similar fashion in the northwest area of Richland County in South Carolina, US, from April 28 to May 5, the Beijing-based Global Times reported Wednesday.
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Iran Cooperative but Nuclear Issue Remains Unsolved
Iran's acceptance of a compromise on the agenda text of a global nuclear conference in Vienna reflects its cooperative attitude towards the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) but may not be enough to solve the country's nuclear issue, Chinese experts said Wednesday.
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Abe Move: Tokyo Tries to Allay Concerns
Japan stressed Wednesday that it would try to keep improving relations with China in remarks seen as an attempt to allay concerns about Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's offering to the Yasukuni Shrine, Kyodo News Agency said.
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 Blair to Announce Departure Plan
Ten years after sweeping into power in Britain, Prime Minister Tony Blair will announce on Thursday when he plans to step aside and allow finance minister Gordon Brown to take over as prime minister.
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 Cheney in Baghdad to Push Reconciliation
US Vice President Dick Cheney made a surprise visit to Baghdad in a new bid to press Iraqi leaders to double efforts to achieve reconciliation among rival factions.
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Hu, Bush Exchange Views on Bilateral Relations
Chinese President Hu Jintao and his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush Thursday had a telephone conversation where they discussed their views on bilateral relations and the upcoming second round of strategic economic dialogue between the two countries.
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Uncertainty Grows over Wolfowitz's Future
A special World Bank panel has found that Paul Wolfowitz breached ethics rules when he used his position as president to secure a generous compensation package for his girlfriend, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
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Little Progress in Talks over Rail Test
North Korea and South Korea made little progress Tuesday in working out security arrangements for test runs of trains across their heavily armed border in their first day of high-level military talks, a South Korean official said.
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Pentagon Earmarks 10 More Brigades for Iraq
The Pentagon said Tuesday that it has earmarked 10 more combat brigades with 35,000 troops for deployments in Iraq this year, in order to maintain the ongoing military buildup there.
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Army Proposes 'Buffer Zone' in Gaza
Israel's army has developed a plan to create a "buffer zone" inside the edge of the Gaza Strip to halt the latest wave of Palestinian rocket attacks, military officials said Tuesday.
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 A Brighter Future for Timor-Leste Within Reach
Timor-Leste prepares to determine who its new leader will be as the presidential got underway on Wednesday morning. Around 600,000 voters are expected at the 705 polling stations in the country's 13 electoral districts.
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 New Power-Sharing Era for N Ireland
Northern Ireland's Protestant and Roman Catholic leaders, arch-foes during decades of bloodshed, launched a new power-sharing government in the British province Tuesday aiming to put a final end to violence.
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S Korea, EU Kick off FTA Talks
The first round of a free trade agreement (FTA) negotiation between South Korea and the European Union (EU) started on Monday with EU chief negotiator Ignacio Garcia Bercero's remarks that the talks was in a "very good" mood.
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Nuclear Treaty Talks Drifted over Iranian Delay
The first meeting of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) drifted closer to collapse on Monday as Iran withheld its reply to a proposal aimed at getting it to comply with nuclear rules.
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35 Dead, 80 Wounded in Baghdad Blast
A car bomb killed at least 35 people and wounded 80 Monday next to a crowded market in a Shi'ite district of Baghdad which has been a repeated target of attacks blamed on Sunni Muslim Al-Qaida.
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 No Survivors in Kenya Airways Crash
Following the crash of a Kenya Airways flight into a thick mangrove swamp on Saturday near Douala in Cameroon, army sources have revealed that no survivors were found.
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S Korean State Bank May Mediate North Funds
South Korea is considering using one of its state-run banks as an intermediary to transfer North Korean funds out of a Macao bank to help implement a nuclear deal with Pyongyang, a local newspaper reported yesterday.
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China to Write Off Iraqi Debts
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi announced yesterday that the Chinese government is ready to substantially reduce and forgive the debts owed by Iraq and provide a grant of 50 million yuan (US$6.5 million).
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Iran, US May Meet at Iraqi Conference
Iran will attend a conference of key powers including the United States this week that will focus on stabilizing Iraq, a meeting Baghdad said might be a turning point for regional cooperation in easing the violence.
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Calls Grow for Olmert to Resign
Members of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's ruling coalition joined opposition lawmakers Sunday in calling for the Israeli leader and his defense minister to resign after parts of a government report criticizing their handling of last year's war in Lebanon were leaked to local media.
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Kosovo Offered Self-rule, but Not Full Secession
Serbia proposed near-complete independence for Kosovo Sunday, urging the province's ethnic Albanian separatists to accept the offer of broad autonomy and drop their demand for formal secession.
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Mass Rally in Turkey to Support Secularism
600 non-governmental organizations held mass rallies in the Turkish capital Ankara and largest city of Istanbul on Sunday to show their support for the country's secular system. The rallies came amid mounting tension stemming from the presidential elections between the Islamic-rooted ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the country's secularists.
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 Mali Hopeful After Presidential Election
Mali held its presidential election yesterday, hoping the new head of state will bring prosperity to one of the world's poorest countries. The incumbent, President Amadou Toumani Toure, was challenged by seven rivals, including one woman.
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Rebels Reportedly 'Release' Chinese Hostages
The seven Chinese oil workers kidnapped in a deadly raid staged by rebels on an oilfield in Ethiopia last Tuesday have been released, the Ethiopian Ministry of Defense told Xinhua News Agency yesterday. The news was confirmed by the International Committee of the Red Cross, but the Chinese embassy said it was yet to be verified.
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Hamas Urges Arab Countries to Support Palestinians
Exiled head of Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) Khaled Meshaal Saturday urged the Arab countries to support the Palestinian people as financial and political siege imposed on the Palestinians continues.
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Sri Lankan Air Force Bombs Rebel Targets
Sri Lankan Air Force jets bombed several identified targets of Tamil Tiger rebels early Sunday morning, defense officials said. The air raids came shortly after LTTE aircraft dropped four bombs in the capital Colombo.
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Iraqi PM to Attend Int'l Conference on Iraq in Egypt
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al- Maliki is scheduled to attend the meetings of the International Compact with Iraq (ICI) slated for May 3 in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, a Iraqi diplomat said on Saturday.
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Bomb Near Iraq Shrine Kills 47
The death toll rose to 47 from a suicide car bombing on Saturday near a holy Shiite shrine in Karbala, some 100 km south of Baghdad, a local police source told Xinhua.
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Ukrainian PM Calls for Fresh Talks
Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich Saturday urged renewed talks with President Viktor Yushchenko to end the nation's ongoing political crisis.
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 Taliban Release French Hostage
The Taliban released a French female hostage yesterday ending her ordeal since she was kidnapped on April 3 near Kandahar in southern Afghanistan along with four colleagues. A Taliban spokesman described the act as "a good gesture" toward the French people.
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 20 Dead after Assassination Attempt on Pakistan Minister
A suicide bomber left at least 20 people dead and scores wounded after detonating himself at a public meeting attended by Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Saturday, officials said. Sherpao and his son were not harmed and retured home safely, Geo News channel reported.
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UN Security Council Lifts Ban on Liberian Diamonds
The UN Security Council lifted on Friday a more than three-year-old ban on diamond imports from Liberia, applauding the government's cooperation with the "Kimberley Process," a mechanism set up to keep so-called "blood diamonds" from reaching world markets.
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Russia Irate At Estonian Soviet Statue Demolition
Russia on Friday warned of taking "practical reactions" against neighboring Estonia, after the Baltic state dismantled a Red Army soldier's statue. The move triggered riots in the streets of Tallinn, leaving one dead and dozens injured.
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Bush Seeks Diplomatic Result For DPRK Dispute
US President George W. Bush, speaking at a joint press conference with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Camp David, Maryland on Friday, reaffirmed that diplomacy remained the preferable choice to solve the North Korea nuclear issue.
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 Japanese Court Decision on War Reparations Slammed
China on Friday rebuked the Japanese Supreme Court for ruling that since the Chinese government's waived its right to war reparations in the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, this ban also extended to individual petitions from Chinese citizens.
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Larijani: Iran-EU Nuclear Talks Near Unity View
Iran's nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said Thursday Iran and the EU were nearing "a united view" in some areas of their talks and new ideas were raised to break an international impasse over Teheran's atomic program.
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 Abe Meets Bush, Renews Sympathy for 'Comfort Women'
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that he feels "deeply sorry" for the so-called "comfort women" who were forced to serve as sex slaves for Japanese forces during World War II during his first US visit for talks on North Korea and Tokyo's expanding global role.
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Iraqi Gov't Withheld Casualty Figures, Says UN
The Iraqi government withheld recent casualty figures from the United Nations, fearing they would be used to present a grim picture of Iraq that would undermine the coalition's security efforts, UN officials said Wednesday.
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 US Congressional Committee Subpoenas Rice
A US congressional committee threatened to widen the rift between Congress and the White House as it took steps Wednesday to subpoena US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice over illegitimate claims concerning Iraq's prewar nuclear intentions, but her spokesman said she would resist.
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Hunt Starts for Seized Chinese
Ethiopian troops are searching for seven Chinese workers kidnapped in a rebel attack on an oilfield that killed 74 people in the remote and barren Ogaden region in the southeast of the country.
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 Iran-EU Talks Extended
Iranian and EU negotiators completed their first two rounds of talks on Wednesday on Iran's nuclear program. The consensus was that the talks had been constructive and that they would continue on Thursday and in two weeks.
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Chinese Workers Killed at Canadian Oilsands Project
The two workers that were killed Tuesday at an oilsands construction site in Canada's Alberta were Chinese citizens, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., the energy company involved in the accident has confirmed.
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UN Chief Seeks Syria's Support on Lebanese Issue
Visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday held talks with Syrian President Bashar al- Assad in a bid to seek his support on the Lebanese issue, particularly on an international tribunal on the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri and efforts to stop illegal arms smuggling into Lebanon.
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 Hamas Armed Wing Ends Truce; Gov't Urges Calm
Hamas's armed wing declared an end to a five-month-old Gaza ceasefire Tuesday by firing rockets into Israel, but the Palestinian government led by the Islamist group called for the truce to be restored.
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Continuous Blasts Rock Central Thailand
Continuous explosions on Tuesday night blew down one of the weapon warehouses in Thai central province of Lop Buri, while local residents living around have already been evacuated safely from the area.
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Merkel, Blair Highlight Need to Help Africa
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Tuesday promised to make African aid a key topic at the June summit of the Group of Eight (G8) industrial nations.
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9 Chinese Among 74 Victims in Ethiopia Massacre
China's embassy in Ethiopia on Tuesday confirmed that gunmen had launched an attack on a Chinese oil company's premises in southern Ethiopia, killing 65 Ethiopians and 9 Chinese workers, while kidnapping seven others. All the victims were employees of the Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau belonging to the China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation.
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19 Killed in Car Bombing Attack in Iraq
At least 19 Iraqis were killed and some 35 others wounded in a suicide car bomb attack on a restaurant on a highway near Ramadi west of Baghdad, local police said.
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Japan Extends MSDF Mission in Indian Ocean
The Japanese government decided on Tuesday morning to further extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF)'s mission in the Indian Ocean to refuel US-led coalition forces by another six months to Nov. 1.
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EU Ministers Agree to Impose Sanctions Against Iran
Foreign ministers from all the 27 European Union (EU) member states agreed on Monday in Luxembourg to introduce sanctions against Iran over its nuclear ambitions in line with a UN Security Council resolution, an EU spokeswoman said on Monday.
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Zambia Reshuffles Cabinet
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa decided on a major cabinet reshuffle yesterday, smiling on two deputy ministers who were promoted to full ministers and changing the portfolios of five others.
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 Germany Calls for Wolfowitz Resignation
Beleaguered World Bank head Paul Wolfowitz saw his troubles worsen as Germany clamored for his resignation over a promotion he apparently facilitated for his girlfriend.
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 Boris Yeltsin Dies at 76
Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, who buried the former Soviet Union and then led Russia through its chaotic first years of independence, died yesterday aged 76, the Kremlin said.
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Pak-Afghan Meeting to Cool Tensions
President Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday that he will meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Turkish capital Ankara to discuss steps for the confidence building measures between the two countries and to stop accusations against each other.
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Inter-Korean Economic Meeting Yields Fruits
After five days of talks, the 13th meeting of the Inter-Korean Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation concluded in Pyongyang on Sunday, with a series of agreements, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
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US Troops Erect More Walls in Baghdad
The US military is erecting tall concrete walls to protect five Baghdad neighborhoods in a new strategy that some residents said would isolate them from other communities and sharpen sectarian tensions.
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 Fragile Peace Broken in West Bank
The Israeli army has engaged Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip since Saturday, killing at least nine. Hamas immediately retaliated Sunday, urging militants to arm up against the Jewish sate.
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 Sarkozy, Royal to Face Off for French Presidency
Right-wing Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal finished ahead in the first round of the French presidential race and will face each other in two weeks' time, results showed on Sunday.
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Paulson: China's Growth, Stability Vital for All Nations
China is already a world economic leader and deserves to be recognized as a leader, US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Friday said in New York, while emphasizing China's growth and stability as "a vital issue for all nations."
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Kyodo: Abe Unlikely to Visit Shrine in April
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is unlikely to visit a controversial war shrine during a festival in late April as he wants to continue to improve ties with China, Kyodo news agency said quoting aides.
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Top Chinese Political Advisor Starts Visit to Zimbabwe
Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, arrived in Harare Friday on an official good-will visit as guest of the Zimbabwean parliament.
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Candidates Make Final Campaign Push for Elysee
France's presidential candidates made a final push for support on Friday, the last day of campaigning before Sunday's first round ballot with rightist Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal favorites to win.
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Korean Peninsula Envoy Named
China has appointed 54-year-old former ambassador to Norway Chen Naiqing as its special envoy on Korean Peninsula affairs, according to the Foreign Ministry.
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 Gunman Kills Hostage, Self in NASA Space Center
A NASA contract worker took a handgun inside an office building Friday at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and fatally shot a hostage before killing himself, police said. A second hostage escaped with minor injuries.
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 Romanian President Decides Not to Resign
Romania's suspended President Traian Basescu on Friday evening announced in a statement that he will not resign office. However, Romania's Constitutional Court decided that the Senate Speaker Nicolae Vacaroiu will become temporary president and rejected Basescu's appeal against the parliament's decision to suspend him.
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Gates in Baghdad for Reconciliation
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Baghdad Thursday to tell Iraq's leaders the United States wanted faster progress in reconciliation efforts, a day after bombs killed nearly 200 people in the city.
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 Date Set for Iran-EU Nuclear Talks to Resume
Iran's senior nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana agreed on Thursday evening that talks about Iran's nuclear program would resume on April 25, Iran's state television reported.
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EU Moves for Greater Market Access
The European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, has adopted a new strategy to seek market access in emerging economies, particularly China, relying on closer business cooperation and targeting non-tariff barriers.
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New Sanctions Against Sudan Inopportune
The agreement among Sudan, the African Union (AU) and the UN to allow 3,000 of the world body's troops and equipment in Darfur is a positive move towards peace in the region, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao said yesterday.
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Colombian Gov't Accepts Rebels Ceasefire Proposal
The Colombian government has accepted a trial ceasefire proposal by the rebel National Liberation Army (ELN), Luis Carlso Restrepo, the nation's visiting high commissioner for peace said on Wednesday in Cuban capital Havana.
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 South Korea's Shock and Sorrow
South Korea's president and his countrymen expressed shock and anguish Wednesday that one of their own sons carried out the deadliest shooting rampage in US history. Many feared reprisals.
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Nagasaki Mayor Dies After Shooting
The mayor of the Japanese city of Nagasaki died early Wednesday after being gunned down by a suspected gangster, stunning a nation where shootings are extremely rare.
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Bush, Democrats Failed on Iraq Bill Agreement
US President George W. Bush and Democratic leaders of Congress met at the White House on Wednesday on an emergency war funding bill, but the two sides failed to reach agreement to avoid an looming showdown over the legislation.
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Security Council 'Not Right Place' to Discuss Climate
When the United Nations Security Council held its first-ever open debate on global warming on Tuesday, the voices of dissent were loud clear, raising doubts over whether the 15-member body can serve as the right venue to discuss the issue.
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 Four Bombings in Baghdad Kill at Least 160
Four large bombs exploded in mostly Shi'ite areas of Baghdad on Wednesday, killing at least 160 people and wounding scores as violence climbed toward levels seen before the US-Iraqi campaign to pacify the capital began two months ago.
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Help for Chinese Duped in Liberia
China yesterday began flying home about 200 of its nationals, who were duped into paying money to get jobs in a factory in Liberia that is not even complete, and warned other such workers not to fall prey to the lure of big money abroad.
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US Soldier Accused in Iraq Murder Trial
The trial began in Rome on Tuesday of a United States soldier, who is accused of murdering an Italian secret agent in a controversial "friendly fire" incident in Iraq in 2005.
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Gates: Sadr Bloc's Quit Might Be Positive
The US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is now on his Middle East tour, said on Tuesday that the resignations of six Iraqi cabinet ministers loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr might have positive impact on the reconciliation process in Iraq.
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S American Energy Council Created
The First South America Energy Summit ended on Tuesday with the establishment of a South American Energy Council that will follow the development of the regional energy accords, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe announced.
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UN Seeks to Help Millions Iraqi Refugees
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Tuesday opened an international conference in Geneva to address the humanitarian needs of about 4 million Iraqi refugees and internal displaced persons.
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 S Korean Student 'Is Mass Killer'
The police Tuesday identified the suspect of the Virginia Tech shooting as Cho Seung-Hui, a fourth-year student from South Korea, who killed 32 people before taking his own life Monday.
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101 Chinese Detained in Colombia
The Chinese Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, is looking into an immigration case involving the detention of 101 Chinese nationals in two separate raids in the nearby town of Zipaquira.
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 Pacts Underscore Partnership
China and Pakistan yesterday reaffirmed their traditional friendship and growing economic ties with a raft of agreements.
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Japan, US, India Hold First Joint Maritime Drill
Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force and US and Indian navies held their first joint maritime drill on Monday in the Pacific Ocean off central Japan's Boso Peninsula. The "goodwill exercise" was aimed at fostering trust among the three nations' forces and was "not directed at any third country." said Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi.
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Sudan Approves UN 'Heavy Support Package'
Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol announced on Monday that his government had approved a "heavy support" package from the UN for the African Union (AU)peacekeeping mission in Darfur.
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 Iraq's Sadr Bloc Withdraws from Government
Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ordered his ministers to quit Iraq's government Monday in protest at Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's refusal to set a timetable for US troops to withdraw.
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Pakistan PM to Ink Dozens of Deals
Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who arrived in Beijing yesterday, is expected to sign more than 20 agreements and memorandums of understanding in the technology, education, banking, infrastructure and investment sectors during his six-day stay.
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 Worst-Ever Campus Shooting Stuns US
A total of 33 people, including the gunman, were killed in a shooting rampage at Virginia Tech, university president Charles Steger said at a press conference on Monday. The massacre stands as the worst mass shooting ever seen in the United States.
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Iran to Seek Bids for Two Nuclear Power Plants
Iran said Sunday it would seek bids in the next few days for two new nuclear power plants and will partly run them on fuel produced at home, a process the West fears could lead to material for building atomic bombs.
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US Tells N Korea Funds at Bank Available
The United States has told North Korea it can access funds that had been frozen at a Macao bank and urged Pyongyang to start shutting down its nuclear reactor and invite back international inspectors.
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Car, Minibus Bombings Kill at Least 37
Twin car bombs exploded minutes apart in a busy Shiite marketplace, and two minibuses exploded in separate attacks across Baghdad Sunday - killing at least 37 people, police and hospital officials said.
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 Leaders Agree to West Bank Meeting
The Israeli and Palestinian leaders met Sunday for the first of a series of biweekly talks, addressing day-to-day issues such as travel and trade restrictions, but also talking about the general outlines of Palestinian statehood for the first time after six years of paralysis in peacemaking.
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FM: Chad, China Crown Renewed Relations as Minister Visits Beijing
Chadian Minister of External Relations Ahmad Allam-Mi will pay an official visit to China from April 18-20, the first China trip of a foreign minister from Chad since the two countries resumed diplomatic ties last August, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang announced at Thursday's regular press conference in Beijing.
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Abbas: Abducted BBC Journalist Is Safe and Well
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has told the BBC he has "credible evidence" a BBC journalist kidnapped a month ago in the Gaza Strip is "safe and well," the network's top executive said Thursday.
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India Tests Long-Range Missile
India carried out a successful test Thursday of its longest-range ballistic missile, the Agni III, which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead more than 3,000 kilometers, scientists said.
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 Suicide Bomber Hits Iraqi Parliament
A suicide bomber killed eight people in the Iraqi parliament Thursday, slipping through multiple checkpoints in a brazen strike that challenged a major security crackdown in Baghdad.
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 High-level Economic Dialogue Mechanism Launched
China and Japan announced yesterday the creation of a joint high-level economic dialogue mechanism which will serve to promote economic and trade ties between the two countries. The first meeting is set to be held later this year in Beijing.
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At Least Five Killed in Baghdad Bridge Blast
At least five people were killed and 11 others injured when a key bridge over the Tigris River in Baghdad was hit by a suicide truck bombing on Thursday morning, the Interior Ministry said.
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Prague Conference Discusses Climate Protection after 2012
The participants in a two-day international conference on climate protection that opened in Prague on Wednesday discussed how to coordinate efforts by experts, NGOs and politicians after 2012 when the targets of the Kyoto Protocol expire.
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ICRC Deplores Worsening Humanitarian Crisis in Iraq
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed on Wednesday alarm about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Iraq and called for urgent action to protect civilians against the continuing violence.
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 Al-Qaida Claims Deadly Algiers Blasts
Bombs killed at least 23 people in Algeria's capital Wednesday, attacks claimed by Al-Qaida that raised fears the north African oil exporter was slipping back into the intense political violence of the 1990s.
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 Diplomacy, Defense Top Future Agenda
China and Japan yesterday pledged to intensify efforts to have more diplomatic dialogue and defensive cooperation apart from high-level economic talks and mutual support for peaceful development.
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Portugal's President Endorses Law Allowing Abortion
Portugal's president Tuesday ratified a new law permitting abortion up until the 10th week of pregnancy, bringing the Roman Catholic country in line with most of its European neighbors, his office said in a statement.
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Russia Doubts Iran's Atomic Claims
Russia questioned Tuesday an announcement by Iran that it was now making nuclear fuel on an industrial scale, a move that if confirmed would take Teheran closer to making an atomic bomb which the West fears is its aim.
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 North Korean Funds Freed as Nuclear Deadline Nears
The United States said Tuesday that Macao authorities have unblocked funds in frozen accounts of North Korea, and told Pyongyang it must now start shutting down a nuclear reactor days before a deadline.
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 Partnership with ROK to Expand
China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) yesterday agreed to expand their comprehensive partnership with the signing of four pacts after talks between visiting Premier Wen Jiabao and ROK President Roh Moo-hyun.
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 Chinese Premier Arrives in Seoul
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao began his state visit to South Korea on Tuesday, seeking to boost strategic communication and to find more common ground between the two countries.
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New Hunger Strike Starts in Guantanamo
A new hunger strike is underway at the US detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with more than a dozen detainees subjecting themselves to daily force-feeding to protest their treatment, The Boston Globe reported Monday.
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Bush Unveils Latest Immigration Proposals
US President George W. Bush unveiled the outlines of his latest immigration proposals on Monday, mixing tougher border enforcement and a path to legal status for illegal immigrants.
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Hill: Pyongyang May Not Meet Nuclear Deadline
The top US negotiator on North Korea's nuclear program said Monday that it was becoming difficult for Pyongyang to meet a mid-April deadline to close a nuclear reactor, but Washington would not accept a partial shutdown.
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Protestors Stand Firm as Court Steps in
Ukraine was mired in political crisis Monday ahead of a meeting of the constitutional court this week to rule on President Viktor Yushchenko's bid to force early parliamentary elections.
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 Iran Starts Production of Nuclear Fuel
Iran announced Monday it had begun industrial scale nuclear fuel production in a fresh snub to the UN Security Council which has imposed two rounds of sanctions on Teheran for refusing to halt such work.
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 Iraqis Rally, Call for US Withdrawal
Tens of thousands of people waving Iraqi flags staged a peaceful rally in the southern city of Najaf Monday to demand the withdrawal of US forces, four years to the day after Baghdad fell to invading American troops.
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Iraqi PM Barred from Iran Airspace
Iran refused to allow a plane carrying Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on a trip to Asia to cross its airspace overnight, a senior adviser to the Iraqi leader said Sunday.
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Hamas Draws up Soldier Swap List
Hamas has handed over the names of Palestinian prisoners it demands Israel release in exchange for an Israeli soldier seized by Gaza gunmen 10 months ago, the Islamist group said Sunday.
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 E. Timorese Vote Today for New President
For tens of thousands of East Timorese who fled their homes last year when the tiny nation descended into chaos, the main hope from today's presidential election is that it will allow them to go home.
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Abe Vows to Face Up to History
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said he will face up to history to help improve Sino-Japanese relations. He made the remarks in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) which was broadcast yesterday ahead of Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Japan on Wednesday.
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Chechnya Installs Ex-rebel as President
Chechnya installed as president Thursday a 30-year-old with his own militia force, praised by allies for restoring order to the Russian province but accused by rights groups of killing and abducting civilians.
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Ukrainian President, PM Trade Threats
A battle of power between Ukraine's president and its prime minister grew sharper Thursday with both men refusing to back down over a new election and threatening each other with prosecution.
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 Freed Britons Back Home, Standoff over
The 15 British military personnel freed by Iran after a two-week diplomatic stand-off arrived back in England Thursday to cheers and questions about the incident and its implications.
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 Wen to Advance FTA Deal with S. Korea
"China and South Korea should come up with a mutually beneficial FTA proposal at an early date and thus lead the way towards the FTA," Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on Thursday, during an interview with journalists from 19 South Korean news organizations. The interview came ahead of Wen's South Korea trip on April 10 and 11.
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Wu: US, China Relations Have More Unity Than Division
Top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo met a delegation of 25 US congressmen Thursday, saying that their two countries had much more uniting them than separating them, adding that differences of opinion on some issues are to be expected due to contrasting historical and cultural backgrounds.
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Pelosi Wraps up 'Productive' Visit to Syria
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday wrapped up a two-day official visit to Syria which she described as "very productive" while the White House criticized it for undermining the US efforts to isolate the Arab country.
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Sex Slave Issue Looms over Abe's 1st US Trip
Japan's prime minister will make his first trip to the US as premier this month for summit talks on the Korean nuclear issue and Iraq, against a backdrop of renewed controversy over Japan's use of military brothels during World War II (WWII).
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 SAARC Promotes Regional Development
The two-day summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ended yesterday in New Delhi with the member countries issuing a joint declaration which will prioritize the region's social and economic development.
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 Premier Shows Optimism Ahead of Japan Trip
Giving an interview to journalists from 16 Japanese media outlets, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao announced he expected a successful trip to Japan next week, and hoped Japanese leaders would refrain from visiting the Yasukuni shrine in the future.
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 Iran to Release 15 British Sailors
In a surprising move on Wednesday, Iran announced the unconditional release of the 15 British sailors which it has detained for 13 days.
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Immediate Action Called to Restore Stability in Somalia
Participants to a meeting of the International Contact Group on Somalia, held at Cairo-based Arab League headquarters on Tuesday, called on international parties to take urgent actions to help Somalia restore law and order, Egypt's news agency MENA reported.
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Next 48 Hours Critical in Row with Iran: Blair
Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair said Tuesday the way was open for diplomatic efforts to secure the release of 15 British sailors and marines seized by Iran, and the next 48 hours would be critical.
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Solomons Faces Humanitarian Crisis
A humanitarian crisis triggered by a huge earthquake and tsunami threatened thousands of homeless people in the Solomon Islands Tuesday as aid began to trickle in and powerful aftershocks rattled the country.
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FM: Flexibility Needed for Darfur Issue
At a press conference yesterday in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang stated that China urges the Sudanese government to be flexible over on the Darfur issue and to consider a peace plan proposed by Kofi Annan.
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 Pelosi Acclaimed During Syria Trip
Syrian officials and government media on Tuesday hailed the Damascus visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, praising her for trying to improve relations between the two countries. However, US President Bush denounced the trip, saying it encouraged the illicit activities of the Syria's government.
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 Kiev Locked in Power Struggle, Again
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko's decree to dissolve parliament came into force Tuesday and Ukraine's prime minister immediately challenged what he called a "fatal error" in the courts.
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SAARC Summit Begins in New Delhi
Heads of state from eight South Asian nations were united yesterday in calling for a move from words to action to lift millions out of poverty.
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China Outlines SAARC Cooperation
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, currently visiting New Delhi, today announced five proposals for cooperation between China and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
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Death Penalty Sought for 'Chemical Ali'
Prosecutors yesterday sought the death penalty for Saddam Hussein's cousin, widely known as Chemical Ali for his use of poison gas against the regime's opponents and once one of the most feared men in Iraq.
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Romanian President Disfavors New Gov't Formula
Romanian President Traian Basescu sent on Monday afternoon a letter to the Chamber of Deputies and Senate speakers, warning them the risk of a breakage between the political class and society, if the new government proposed by Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu receives investiture vote in the Parliament.
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Tsunami Kills at Least 20 in Solomons
Less than a day after a devastating tsunami hit the Solomon Islands, a smaller earthquake struck early Tuesday near the South Pacific chain of islands. The tsunami swallowed entire villages and killing at least 20 people with many more missing.
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Chinese FM Visits SAARC Summit
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will today attend the 14th Summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in New Delhi.
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Senate Maj. Leader Proposes Slashing Iraq Budget
Democratic Senator Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, tabled a controversial proposal on Monday to choke off funds for Iraq war should President Bush reject a proposal towards withdrawing US troops from Iraq.
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 Britain Stands Firm on Its Detained Sailors
The propagandistic appearances of the British sailors currently held hostage in Iran would not succeed in altering Britain's stance, Prime Minister Tony Blair's spokesman said on Monday.
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Romanian PM Reshuffled Government
Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu announced a government reshuffle on Sunday, ousting all ministers of his coalition partner, the Democratic Party of Romania (PD), from the cabinet.
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Tentative Truce Announced in Mogadishu
Somalia's powerful Hawiye clan on Sunday announced it was beginning a truce with Ethiopian troops to end four days of fighting, which have left dozens dead and hundreds wounded in the Somali capital Mogadishu.
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 Mounting Pressure to Free Sailors Leaves Iran Unfazed
Ignoring growing international pressure to release 15 British sailors and marines, Iran continued its defiant attitude on Sunday, insisting the Britons had trespassed into Iranian waters and stating London must change its attitude over the nine-day standoff.
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China, Pakistan Pledge Closer Partnership
Officials in Islamabad pledged on Sunday to foster the friendship between China and Pakistan and in so doing consolidate the bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership.
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 Ray of Hope as Israel Calls for Peace Summit
Speaking at a news conference with visiting German Chancellor and current EU president Angela Merkel on Sunday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called for a regional conference involving Israel and all Arab leaders, including the king of Saudi Arabia.
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 Fighting Resumes in Somali Capital of Mogadishu
Heavy fighting resumed on Friday in the Somali capital of Mogadishu as insurgents shot down a helicopter gunship and mortar shells slammed into a hospital in the worst fighting since the Somali transitional government retook Mogadishu last December.
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 Kyrgyz Parliament Approved New PM
Kyrgyzstan's parliament on Friday approved President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's nomination of an opposition leader as new prime minister, said reports from Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek.
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China, Japan to Meet over Gas Fields Dispute
China and Japan will hold high-level talks in Beijing next week on the gas fields dispute in the East China Sea, said Akira Amari, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, on Friday.
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US Senate Demands Troop Withdrawal
US Senate Democrats ignored a veto threat and pushed through a bill Thursday requiring President George W. Bush to start withdrawing US troops from "the civil war in Iraq," dealing a rare, sharp rebuke to the president as a wartime commander in chief.
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Iran Backtracks on Releasing UK Soldier
Britain made an appeal for international pressure to be brought to bear on Iran Thursday over the capture of 15 of its soldiers, a move which caused Iran to cancel the touted release of one of the captives.
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PM Rejects Emergency Law, Calls Dec Election
Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont rejected a military demand for emergency powers to halt growing anti-government protests Thursday and said a general election would be held in December.
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 China, Ukraine Vow Closer Bilateral Ties
In a meeting with Ukraine's Parliament Speaker Oleksander Moroz on Thursday, Chinese President Hu Jintao announced that China welcomed pragmatic cooperation with Ukraine to take bilateral relations to new highs.
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DRC Security Forces Seize Arms in Kinshasa
A large quantity of provisions and arms were seized during a joint security operation on Wednesday conducted by elements from the national army and police in the Kingabwa area of Kinshasa, capital of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), considered as one of the strongholds of former vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba.
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Putin, Bush Talk over Phone on Iran Nuclear Issue
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart George W. Bush on Wednesday discussed over phone on the Iran nuclear issue and US plan to deploy an anti-missile defense system in central Europe.
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SCO to Take Further Anti-Terrorism Steps
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization will take further steps, such as to set up a database of terrorist organizations and take joint anti-terrorism excises, to strike on terrorism.
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 Filipino Hostage Drama Ends Peacefully
The hostage-taking drama in Manila, which gripped the world on Wednesday, ended peacefully after the kidnapper, a politically disappointed 60-year-old merchant, released the 30 children and four teachers after holding them for nine hours in a bus parked near the Manila City Hall.
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 Iran to Release UK Female Sailor
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini on Wednesday confirmed that the only woman among the 15 captured British sailors and marines would be released, the official IRNA news agency reported.
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 Israel, Palestine Lay Out Permanent Talk Mechanism
In a positive turn of events, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday, that top Israeli and Palestinian leaders would from now on hold confidence-building talks every two weeks, a mechanism which may lead to discussions on a Palestinian state.
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 Saudis Hope to Rally Arab 'Moderates' at Summit
Arab leaders are arriving in the Saudi capital of Riyadh for a summit scheduled for today and tomorrow, during which a Riyadh-proposed Arab peace initiative is expected to be the centerpiece after recent interest shown by both the United States and Israel.
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Japanese Court Rejects Compensation Suit
A Japanese court Monday rejected demands for compensation of about 184 million yen (US$1.56 million) by a group of Chinese forced to work as slave laborers at a Japanese mine during World War II, a court official said.
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Abe Apologizes for WWII Sex Slaves
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, under a barrage of criticism for recently refusing to apologize about government involvement in forcing women to serve as sex slaves during World War II, said Monday he was "apologizing here and now as the prime minister".
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 Former Thai PM's Wife in Tax Evasion Imbroglio
Thai prosecutors pressed tax evasion charges on Monday against the wife of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and her brother in a case which threatens to utterly wreck any chance of a political comeback for the ousted billionaire.
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Historic N. Ireland Power-Sharing Deal
Northern Ireland's adversarial Protestant and Catholic parties agreed Monday to start sharing power on May 8 in a move which saw their leaders put aside decades of hostility.
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Ban: Time Not Ripe to Meet Hamas
Visiting UN chief Ban Ki-moon Sunday said the time is not ripe to meet with officials from the Islamic Hamas group, dealing a setback to the new Palestinian government's efforts to win international recognition.
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 Japan Earthquake Kills One, Injures 160
An earthquake ripped through the Hokuriku region of Japan on Sunday, killing one person and injuring more than 160, demolishing houses, buckling roads, triggering landslides and cutting off water supplies to thousands of homes.
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 EU Looks to Past for Brighter Future
European Union leaders signed the Berlin Declaration Sunday aimed at reviving the debate over the EU's future, especially concerning its political aspirations.
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Hotline to Help Ease Friction: Pace
China and the United States have agreed to continue discussing the setting up of a "hotline" between military leaders that would help ease any possible friction, Peter Pace, chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a press conference at the US embassy in Beijing.
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US House Passes War Funding Bill
The US House narrowly passed a war funding bill on Friday that would require the Bush administration to withdraw all combat troops from Iraq by September 1 next year.
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Mozambique Weapons Depot Blast Kills 83
The death toll from a fire and explosion at a weapons depot near the capital's airport is at least 83 and is likely to rise further as more bodies are recovered from the charred remains of houses, the health minister said on Friday.
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 Iran Confirms Seizure of British Marines
Iranian foreign ministry confirmed on Friday that its country had seized some British marines earlier in the day when they entered its territorial waters illegally, the state television reported.
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 Iranian President's Trip to UN Canceled
The spokesman of the Iranian Foreign ministry said on Friday night that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would not visit the UN Security Council to address a Saturday meeting on his country's nuclear program due to the late visa issuance from the US side, the state television reported.
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Fatah, Hamas Agree on Ceasefire in N Gaza Strip
Leaders of rival Palestinian movements of Fatah and Hamas agreed on an immediate ceasefire in northern Gaza Strip, a spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement announced on Thursday night.
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EU Aims for Constitution by 2009
Germany has included the goal of having a constitution for the European Union by 2009 in a draft declaration to mark the 50th anniversary of the bloc, the Handelsblatt newspaper reported Thursday.
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 Strategic Dialogue Between Japanese, Indian FMs
The Foreign Ministers of Japan and India Thursday met in Tokyo for their first strategic dialogue, covering issues ranging from improving political, security, economic and personnel exchanges cooperation to promoting bilateral ties aiming to build a strategic partnership.
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Baghdad Blast Rattles UN Chief
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was left shaken but unhurt Thursday following a rocket explosion less than 50 meters from the building where he was giving a press conference.
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Six-Party Talks: Recess Only Temporary
Wu Dawei, senior Chinese envoy to the six-party talks, said on Thursday that the recess decided upon is only temporary in nature and that the talks would restart soon.
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Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff Visits China
Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff and the senior officer in the US Army, arrived in Beijing on Thursday for a four-day visit, a further sign that ties between the two armed forces are improving.
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EU, UN Ease Diplomatic Boycott
The European Union and the United Nations eased their diplomatic boycott of the Palestinian government Wednesday, by agreeing to hold talks with non-Hamas ministers.
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Sarkozy Gets the Backing of President
French President Jacques Chirac endorsed fellow conservative Nicolas Sarkozy's presidential bid Wednesday despite a long-held rivalry, giving a boost to the candidate in a close and volatile race.
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US Supports Somalia Peace Conference
The United States on Wednesday announced its backing for the upcoming Somali reconciliation conference, labeling it the best chance in decades for the democratic future of the African country to be smoothly mapped out.
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 Insurgent Clashes in Pakistan Kill 126
Gun battles between local tribesmen and Uzbek militants in the tribal area of South Waziristan in Pakistan grew in intensity on Thursday, with the body count rising to 126 after three days of fighting.
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Rich Contracts Await Hu's Moscow State Visit
Chinese and Russian companies are set to finalize over US$4.3 billion worth of contracts during President Hu Jintao's upcoming state visit to Russia, Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui said yesterday in Beijing.
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One Survives, 106 Die at Russian Mine
Rescuers found one survivor Tuesday and hunted for four still missing in a Siberian coal mine, after 106 workers died in Russia's worst mining disaster since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
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 Russia Pulls Nuclear Experts Out Of Iran
Russia has brought home its contingent of technicians and engineers working on Iran's unfinished nuclear reactor plant at Bushehr as mounting international pressure piles up on Tehran, Austria Press Agency (APA) reported Tuesday.
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China Meets US, Mexico over Subsidies Complaint
China met with trade representatives from US and Mexico on Tuesday following their complaint about Chinese industrial subsidies, the Chinese Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) revealed.
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Six-party Talks: N. Korean Funds Issue Still Unresolved
The six-party talks on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue seemed stuck in the mud on Tuesday as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) continued to refuse to attend the talks until it fully receives the funds currently frozen at a Macao bank.
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Poll: Fewer than 1 in 5 Iraqis Trust US
Only 18 percent of Iraqis have confidence in US-led forces and about 86 percent are concerned about someone in their household being a victim of violence, according to a survey published by the BBC yesterday.
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Iran's DM Dismisses UN Sanction Threat
Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar on Monday dismissed the possible imposition of more UN Security Council sanctions against Tehran, saying the measures would only enhance its military independence, Iran's local Fars news agency reported.
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US Diplomat Injured in Kabul Suicide Bombing
One US diplomat was injured in a suicide car bombing targeting a convoy of the US embassy in the Afghan capital Kabul on Monday, Laura Gritz, the embassy's press officer told Xinhua.
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Hamas Breaks Ceasefire with Israel
Hamas' armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, carried out its first attacks since a tentative November truce on Monday, shooting an Israeli utility worker near the border and launching two mortar rounds at soldiers.
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 Russian Mine Methane Blast Kills 78
A methane explosion inside a Siberian coal mine killed 78 people on Monday in the worst disaster to blight Russia's mining industry in a decade, local officials said.
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 President Hu Meets with French Defense Minister
Meeting with French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie on Monday, Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday praised China's strategic dialogue and political trust with France, pledging to deepen them and take the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights.
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US Agrees to Release Frozen N. Korean Funds
The US will transfer North Korea's frozen funds from a Macao bank to a Chinese bank in Beijing, a US official revealed in Beijing Monday prior to the restart of the six-party nuclear talks.
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Finland's PM to Form New Coalition Gov't
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen will spend Monday preparing to form a new coalition government after his Center Party won Sunday's parliamentary election.
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Brazilian President to Reshuffle Cabinet Today
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will reshuffle cabinet today, Jose Mucio, head of Workers' Party (PT) in Congress, announced on Sunday. Although the PT is lead by Lula who was sworn in a second term in January, the party suffered heavy blows from a series of corruption scandals.
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 Russia Moves to Protect Iran
Russian Security Council chief Igor Ivanov on Sunday gave a thinly-veiled warning to any country attempting to cover interference in Iran's internal affairs by using Iran's nuclear program as cover.
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Protestors Rally to Mark Iraq War Anniversary
Denouncing a conflict entering its fifth year, protestors across the United States raised their voices against US policy in Iraq and marched by the thousands to the Pentagon in the footsteps of an epic demonstration four decades ago against another divisive war.
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3 Chlorine Bombs Poison Hundreds in Iraq
Insurgents in western Iraq set off three chlorine gas car bombs, US forces said on Saturday, weeks after two similar attacks sparked fears of a new campaign using unconventional weapons in Iraq.
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 Olmert Shuns New Palestine Gov't
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Sunday ruled out peace talks with the Palestinians, saying contacts will be limited to humanitarian issues until the new coalition government explicitly renounces violence and recognizes Israel's right to exist.
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Six-Party Talks: Tang Hints at Deal over Macao Funds
A cloud surrounding US$25 million, belonging to North Korea, and frozen by a US injunction in a Macao bank, that threatened to derail the six-party talks has seemingly been lifted. Reports emerged on the eve of the restart of the six-party talks in Beijing today that the US and North Korea had come to terms over the funds.
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 Haneya: Abbas Has Approved New Gov't
Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haneya revealed in Gaza on Thursday afternoon that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had given his accord to the list of the new national unity government set to be announced later today.
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Six-Party Talks: Working Group Discusses N. Korea Aid
The six-party talks' working group on economy and energy cooperation held its first meeting Thursday afternoon at the South Korean embassy in Beijing. Discussions primarily revolved around North Korea's need for assistance and other nations' intentions as to this assistance.
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Haneya: Unity Gov't Deal Finalized
Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haneya announced on Wednesday night that a national unity government deal was finalized as the last obstacle related to the coalition was overcome.
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 ElBaradei: Pyongyang Ready to Cooperate
Wrapping up a two-day visit to North Korea, IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei said in Beijing yesterday that Pyongyang is positive about rejoining the IAEA and ready to cooperate in the implementation of the agreement reached on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue last month at the six-party talks.
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US Attorney-General Facing Pressure to Quit
Embattled US Attorney-General Alberto Gonzales said Wednesday it is up to President George W. Bush whether he remains in the administration and said he wants to stay and explain to Congress the circumstances surrounding the firings of eight US attorneys.
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 Britain's Nuclear Deterrent to be Renewed
The British parliament voted on Wednesday to renew its nuclear weapons system by 409 votes to 161. During the controversial floor debate and vote, Prime Minister Tony Blair experienced the biggest rebellion from inside his Labour party since the Iraq war.
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Two US Soldiers Killed in Baghdad
Two US soldiers were killed and four others wounded by roadside bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital on Tuesday, the US military said on Wednesday.
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Sudan Rejects UN Findings on Darfur
Sudan Tuesday rejected as invalid the findings of a United Nations human rights mission which accused Khartoum of orchestrating and taking part in gross violations in Darfur.
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 Iranian Call for Diplomacy
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki Tuesday repeated that the imbroglio surrounding Tehran's nuclear program would only be solved through political consultation and diplomatic approaches.
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Europeans Kidnapped in Ethiopia Released
Five Europeans who were kidnapped close to two weeks ago in Ethiopia have been released into the keeping of neighboring Eritrea and are in good health, the British government announced Tuesday.
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US Mulls 'Fallback Strategy' for Iraq
US military planners are considering a "fallback strategy" for Iraq that includes a gradual withdrawal of forces and a renewed emphasis on training Iraqi troops, the Baltimore Sun reported Monday.
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Top US Negotiator to Arrive in Beijing
Top US negotiator to the six-party talks Christopher Hill will arrive in Beijing on Wednesday ahead of the upcoming talks on Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.
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ROK-US FTA Talks End with Progress
Negotiators of South Korea and the United States Monday wrapped up their eighth round of free trade agreement (FTA) talks, saying a final deal is "within grasp".
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Nepal PM Says King Should Abdicate
In a dramatic turnaround in his position on Nepal's monarchy, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said Monday that King Gyanendra should abdicate now instead of waiting for the outcome of a vote on his future.
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 Casablanca Suicide Bomber Injures 4
A suicide bomber detonated inside an Internet cafe in Morocco's northwestern city of Casablanca on Sunday night, killing himself and wounding four others after he found himself confronted over visiting a militant website, Moroccan officials said on Monday.
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 Dubai Airport Reopens After Accident
Dubai airport, the busiest hub in the Middle East, closed for over seven hours on Monday following an accident during the take-off of a Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft. The problem severely affected air traffic.
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NATO Chief Critical of US Missile Defense
NATO's secretary-general has criticized a proposed US missile defense system, saying it could split the alliance between the program's supporters and detractors risks, the Financial Times reported yesterday.
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Bush Aims to Renew US-Colombia Trade Pact
US President George W. Bush Sunday arrived in Bogota, the first US president to do so since Ronald Reagan, as he tries to shore up his staunchest Latin American ally in its perpetual insurgency and drug war.
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 Iran-US Baghdad Talks Were 'Constructive'
Following an international conference in Baghdad that formed Tehran and Washington's first direct talks since 2003, Iran's Foreign Ministry Sunday hailed it as constructive and a first step in ensuring security and stability in its war-stricken neighbor.
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 Joint Rescue Drill Led by Chinese Navy Ends
A multinational fleet successfully carried out a search and rescue drill yesterday in the Arabian Sea off the Pakistani coast. The two-hour operation under the command of the Chinese navy was part of the multinational naval exercises coded as "Aman 07" that run from March 6 to 13.
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IAEA Cuts Nuclear Aid to Defiant Iran
UN nuclear agency governors Thursday approved cuts in technical aid to Iran to uphold UN sanctions implemented over concern that Teheran may be trying to master the means to build atom bombs.
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Ruling Party Plans Sex Slave Study
Japan's ruling party will conduct a new study on wartime sex slaves and the government will provide documents as needed, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday, rejecting a call from within his party for the government to commission the research.
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Leaders Gather for Brussels EU Summit
The heads of state and government of the EU gathered in Brussels yesterday evening for their spring summit that will focus on energy policy and climate change.
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 N. Korea-Japan Talks Clarify Positions
Although Japan and North Korea came to no agreement during their talks aiming to normalize their ties, which concluded in Hanoi yesterday morning, the meetings aided both sides to comprehend the other's positions, said a Japanese Foreign Ministry official.
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 Paulson: Sino-US Relations of Global Importance
With China's rapid growth cementing the country as a global economic powerhouse, the Sino-US relationship is becoming more important than ever before, said US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson yesterday in a speech to the Shanghai Futures Exchange.
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China Releases Report on US Human Rights Record
China issued on Thursday the Human Rights Record of the United States in 2006 closely following the release of the US State Department's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2006 on Tuesday.
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German Media's Speculations Condemned
Overseas Chinese strongly condemn invalid and false speculations by German media over a recent murder case in which seven Asians were killed, said the associations of Chinese in Germany in a joint statement.
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Iranian Parliament Backs Fuel Rationing, Price Hike
Iran's parliament Wednesday approved the rationing of subsidized gasoline from May 22, while raising prices, in moves that aim to cut costly fuel imports but could stoke inflation and arouse public criticism.
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 Indonesian Plane Accident Kills 23
A packed Indonesian jetliner crash-landed and erupted in flames Wednesday, killing 23 people trapped inside the burning wreckage. More than 110 others escaped through emergency exits as black smoke billowed behind them, authorities and witnesses said.
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Normalization Talks Begin Between N Korea, Japan
Continuing the uplift in relations across East Asia, Japan and North Korea agreed on Wednesday evening in Hanoi to restart bilateral negotiations from Thursday morning as both countries aim to normalize their diplomatic relations.
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 US Criticism on China's Human Rights Record Groundless
Addressing the criticism of China's human rights conditions contained in the US State Department's 2006 Human Rights Report, China on Wednesday launched a broad-side on the report, voicing its disapproval of the report's stance.
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 US Treasury Secretary Arrives for China Tour
US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, confirming his reputation as a veritable China hand, arrived in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon for his third China trip in seven months ahead of the second round of the China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue to convene in Washington in May.
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Chen Rebuked by Washington
Responding to secessionist statements by Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian, the US stated on Monday that it will not "support 'independence' for Taiwan."
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 Indonesia Scarred by Major Quake, 82 Dead
A strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake followed by a powerful aftershock shook Indonesia's Sumatra island Tuesday, causing at least 82 deaths, toppling buildings and raising fears for scores more trapped under the rubble.
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 27 Countries Gather for Major Naval War-games
Warships from countries including China and Britain along with host Pakistan gathered for a naval exercise yesterday designed to boost international anti-maritime terrorism efforts, the Pakistani navy said.
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Gulf FMs Stress Peaceful Solution to Iranian Nuclear Issue
The foreign ministers of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said on Monday that a peaceful solution must be found to the Iranian nuclear issue, urging Tehran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
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US Special Envoy to Meet Sudanese Leader
US special envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios is due to meet Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir over the deployment of an international force in Darfur on Wednesday, the State Department said on Monday.
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Improving Relations Marked by US-DPRK Talks
Negotiators from the United States and North Korea kicked off talks on Monday aimed at restoring diplomatic ties. This forms part of a complex agreement emanating from the six-party talks under which Pyongyang should scrap its nuclear arms program for aid.
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 Baghdad Market Blast Claims 28
At least 28 Iraqis were killed and over 60 others wounded as a car bomb blast ripped through the crowded Mutanabi book market in Baghdad on Monday, media reports said.
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FM Encourages Japan to Face up to History
At a live press conference in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing sent a message to Japan, encouraging it to face up to history, shoulder the responsibility and handle the issue of "comfort women" in a proper manner. This followed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's comments on Monday which ruled out any further apologies by Japan for comfort women, even if US lawmakers should ask for an apology.
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 IAEA: Doubts Persist over Iran Nuclear Program
The UN's chief nuclear inspector, Mohamed ElBaradei on Monday renewed his demand that Iran to address international concerns on its nuclear program to quell the fears of the UN agency, adding that doubts would remain so long as Teheran provided anything less than full cooperation.
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Street Clashes Continue in Copenhagen
Clashes between Copenhagen police and young protestors demonstrating continued overnight into Sunday, but did not escalate into the full-scale riots of the two previous nights.
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Abbas, Haneya to Continue Meeting on Monday
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haneya ended their meeting midnight Sunday without announcement of the expected national unity government.
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IAEA Head to Visit North Korea on March 13
Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei will visit North Korea on March 13 to discuss the latter's nuclear program, IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said on Sunday.
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Korean Envoys Meet in New York
Chief nuclear envoys from the two Koreas met in New York, where North Korea showed a commitment to implementing its recent agreement to start dismantling its nuclear weapons program, news reports in South Korea said Sunday.
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Eritrea Says It Did Not Seize Tourists
Eritrea dismissed as "baseless fabrication" on Sunday accusations by an Ethiopian official that Eritrean forces kidnapped a group of tourists, including Britons and Ethiopians, in a remote part of Ethiopia.
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 Afghan Ambush Kills 16, Wounds 24
A "complex" ambush which saw a gunfight break out after a suicide bombing killed 16 civilians and wounded 24 others as well as a coalition soldier in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, a coalition statement said.
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 Arab League FMs Meeting Closes
The Arab League (AL) foreign ministers meeting concluded in Cairo on Sunday following a series of resolutions on key regional affairs, including Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan and Palestine, being issued.
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US-China Partners in World Peace
During his Beijing visit on Sunday, US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte called for the United States and China to become partners in bringing about global stability and peace.
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 US Army Secretary Resigns
US Army Secretary Francis Harvey has resigned his post as the service's top civilian official, CNN quoted Defense Secretary Robert Gates as saying Friday.
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AU Peacekeepers Arrive in Somalia
The Ugandan vanguard of an African peacekeeping force intended to help Somalia's interim government tighten its tenuous grip on the anarchic nation flew into the country Thursday, witnesses said.
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 US Embassy in Jakarta Receives Bomb Threat
The Indonesian police Thursday sent the bomb disposal unit to the US Embassy compound in Jakarta after receiving text messages whose sender read as Al Qaida and threatened to explode the embassy.
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 Abe: 'Comfort Women' Not Coerced
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday there was no evidence of coercion by Japan's wartime government in using Asian women as sex slaves, backtracking from a landmark 1993 statement in which the Japanese government acknowledged that it set up and ran brothels for its troops in the last century.
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China Encourages Talks to Resolve Iran Issue
China hopes Iran would address the international community's concern over its nuclear issue positively, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said yesterday at his meeting with visiting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.
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Human Error Caused Death of Ecuadorian DM
Human error caused the air accident that killed Ecuador's Defense Minister Guadalupe Larriva in January, head of the committee investigating the accident Leonardo Barreiro said on Wednesday.
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Japan Cuts Short Whale Hunting
Japan has abandoned whale hunting in the Antarctic for this season after its main whaling ship was crippled by a fire two weeks ago, the Fisheries Agency said Wednesday.
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US-DPRK Meeting Set for March 5
Officials from the United States and North Korea will hold working group talks from March 5-6 in New York on the normalization of bilateral relations, the State Department said on Wednesday.
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Wen: China-Sri Lanka Ties Enter New Stage
The relationship between China and Sri Lanka has entered a new stage of comprehensive cooperation, said Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing Wednesday while meeting with visiting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse.
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 China Asked to Join Global Fight Against Disease
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy asked China yesterday to join a new global initiative aimed at providing people in the developing world easier access to drugs for the treatment of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
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Iran Vows Never to Halt Atomic Work
Iran said Tuesday it would never suspend uranium enrichment as demanded by the West, a day after world powers agreed to work on a new UN resolution to pressure Teheran to back down over its nuclear program.
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Iran, Syria and US to Attend Baghdad Talks
Officials from regional states including Iran and Syria will join US and British envoys at a meeting in Baghdad next month to seek ways to stabilize Iraq, the Iraqi foreign minister said Tuesday.
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 China, Sri Lanka Pledge Closer Ties
China and Sri Lanka yesterday signed a series of deals when Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse visited Beijing to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
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Iran Rejects Rice's Conditional Offer for Talks
Iran on Monday rejected US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's conditional offer that she is ready to hold direct talks with Iran if Tehran suspends uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities first.
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Cheney Tells Musharraf to up Fight on Terror
US Vice-President Dick Cheney made surprise visits to Afghanistan and Pakistan Monday to discuss a planned spring offensive against the Taliban after the most violent year since the group was ousted in 2001.
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Iraqi VP, Minister Wounded in Blast
Iraq's Shi'ite vice-president and a cabinet minister were wounded in an apparent assassination attempt Monday when a bomb killed six people at a ministry in Baghdad where they were attending an official ceremony.
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 UN Court Clears Serbia of Genocide
The International Court of Justice ruled on Monday that Serbia was not guilty of genocide for the mass killings of Bosnia Muslims during the 1992-95 war, but should have helped to prevent the tragedy.
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Japan to Aid US in WTO China Complaint
Japan has joined the US in a complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO), a move condemned by Chinese experts. A Japanese official insists the country is only acting as a third-party nation, but China's WTO specialists have denounced the action.
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 Iraqi Cabinet Passes Draft Oil Law
The Iraqi cabinet yesterday passed the long-expected draft oil law, a key move necessary to save the economy from further depression, and the draft will be submitted to the parliament for approval.
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British Council to Close 10 Offices in Europe
The British Council is to close 10 of its 19 offices in Europe and promote its presence in the Muslim world, the British daily The Times reported in an early edition of its Monday newspaper.
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Russian FM Refutes US Claims over Missile Defense
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday dismissed as groundless US claims that the planned deployment of missile defense elements in the Czech Republic and Poland are targeted against Iran and North Korea.
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Sri Lanka President Starts Visit to China
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse arrived in Beijing Monday, starting a seven-day state visit to China. During his stay in Beijing, Rajapakse is to hold talks with President Hu Jintao, and meet with top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao separately.
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 Israeli Forces Storm Nablus, Building Plan Legalized in West Bank
Israeli forces launched a large-scale ground operation into the West Bank city of Nablus Sunday morning, targeting what Israel says were Palestinian terrorist cells. Meanwhile, Israel's Supreme Planning Council for Judea and Samaria legalized the largest-ever illegal construction project in West Bank.
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College Bombing Kills 40 in Baghdad
A suicide bomber wearing a vest packed with explosives killed up to 40 people in a Baghdad college Sunday, a day after Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki expressed optimism about a security crackdown in the capital.
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Space Probe Makes Flyby of Mars
A European spacecraft carried out a close flyby of Mars yesterday, a crucial maneuver in its meandering, 10-year voyage through the solar system to make the first soft landing on a comet.
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Iran: US in No Position to Start War
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said yesterday that the US was in no position to launch military strike against the Islamic Republic, stressing that talks were the only choice to resolve the nuclear standoff.
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Iraqis Protest Arrest of Shi'ite Leader's Son
Iraqis took to the streets of Shi'ite towns and cities yesterday to protest over the detention by US troops of the eldest son of Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, one of Iraq's most powerful Shi'ite leaders.
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6 Killed in Indonesian Ferry Fire
At least six people including two children were killed early Thursday morning when an Indonesian ferry with estimated passengers of 350 on board caught fire off Jakarta, according to a navy spokesman.
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 Iran Refuses to Budge on UN Demand
Iran yesterday defied a UN deadline for the Islamic Republic to suspend its uranium enrichment and vowed to continue its controversial nuclear program.
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Final-round Talk on Kosovo Plan Begins in Vienna
The final round of talks between Serbian and ethnic Albanian negotiators around the plans drafted by UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari on the future status of Kosovo started in Vienna yesterday.
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 Italian Premier Resigns
Italian Premier Romano Prodi resigned yesterday after nine months in office following an embarrassing loss by his center-left government in the Senate on foreign policy, including Italy's military mission in Afghanistan.
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Bomb Explodes in SE Iran
A bomb exploded in southeastern Iranian city of Zahedan on Friday, in the same city where another explosion earlier this week had killed 11 people, the official IRNA news agency reported.
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 US House Slams Bush's Iraq Plan
The US House of Representatives on Friday passed a non-binding resolution that opposes US President George W. Bush's decision to send more troops to Iraq.
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Aso Says to Properly Handle Historical Issues with China
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said on Friday that Japan will continue to abide by the principles set forth in the three joint political documents, including the joint statement, to properly handle the historical issues and the Taiwan issue.
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 Japanese PM, Chinese FM Meet in Tokyo
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with visiting Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing yesterday to discuss bilateral ties and the planned visit by Premier Wen Jiabao.
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Abbas Accepts Haneya's Resignation
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya has officially presented his resignation before President Mahmoud Abbas in a meeting held on Thursday night in Gaza City.
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Energy Reforms Divide EU Ministers
Germany pledged to find a "middle way" yesterday in EU efforts to open gas and electricity markets to more competition as EU governments differed over how far to go in a planned energy sector shake-up.
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Whaling Flagship Burns off Antarctica
A Japanese whaling ship on fire off the coast of Antarctica has sparked fears of an environmental disaster if the ship's 1,000 tons of fuel oil and chemicals leaks.
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Darfur, Guinea Overshadow Summit
How to tap and protect Africa's natural resources, the continent's role in the world and the information age's impact on African society were key themes at a summit of African leaders that opened yesterday in Cannes, France.
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General: Moscow May Opt out of Treaty
A top Russian general said yesterday that Moscow may unilaterally opt out of a key Soviet-era arms reduction treaty with the United States that banned medium-range missiles, Russian news agencies reported.
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Trial Starts for Madrid Train Bombings
The trial of 29 suspects in the 2004 Madrid terrorist attacks began yesterday under tight security, with survivors and mourners getting their first close-up look at the defendants accused of a massacre that killed 191 people and wounded more than 1,800.
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 Plane Hijacking Ends in Canary Islands
An armed man who hijacked a Mauritanian plane to Spain's Canary Islands Thursday was overpowered by passengers and crew before he was arrested by police who boarded the plane shortly after landing, government and airline officials said.
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 FM Li Meets with Senior Japanese Officials
Visiting Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held a series of meetings on Thursday with Japan's Speaker of the House of Representatives Yohei Kono, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki and New Komeito President Akihiro Ota in Tokyo.
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Hu, Bush Discuss Korean Nuclear Issue
Chinese President Hu Jintao and US counterpart George W. Bush exchanged views in a telephone conversation on Thursday touching upon bilateral ties and the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
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Afghanistan at 'Tipping Point'
Afghanistan is at a "tipping point" ahead of an expected Taliban spring offensive, a think tank report warned yesterday as President Hamid Karzai was due for talks in London.
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FAO: World Facing Severe Water Shortage
In less than 20 years, close to two billion people will be without water and two thirds of the world will not have enough water, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned in Rome on Wednesday.
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Fractured Whaling Body May Collapse
The International Whaling Commission may be headed for collapse unless it manages to overcome distrust and confrontation, delegates to a special meeting of the organization said yesterday.
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US, Japan, ROK Leaders Discuss DPRK Nuclear Deal
US President George W. Bush spoke through telephone with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun on Wednesday about the nuclear deal with North Korea, National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
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Hope for Change with New Turkmen President
Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov was sworn in as Turkmenistan's new president Wednesday, declaring he would follow the path of late leader Saparmurat Niyazov but promised to negate some of his predecessor's more unpopular policies.
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 EU Executive Accept Report Slamming Illegal CIA
A plenary session of the European Parliament (EP) Wednesday adopted a final report decrying illegal CIA operations in Europe. The report ends a year of investigations into allegations that the US agency secretly held terror suspects in Europe before flying some to countries practicing torture.
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New Deputy Takes Aegis of Sino-US Strategic Talks
In a new development for Sino-US economic relations, US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has appointed a new deputy whose remit will be overseeing strategic talks with China. This announcement came on Tuesday as President Bush reportedly assisted top US firms in making technology exports to China, the lack of which is seen as a major reason for the trade imbalance.
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 Trilateral FM Summit in New Delhi
The Chinese, Indian and Russian foreign ministers converged on New Delhi Wednesday, renewing their strong commitment to multilateral diplomacy, according to the Joint Communiqué issued after their trilateral meeting.
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Iraq to Close Borders with Syria, Iran
Iraq said Tuesday it would close borders with Syria and Iran for at least three days under security plan aimed at pacifying the capital, said Lieutenant General Abboud Gambar, commander of the Iraqi troops in Baghdad.
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Putin Calls on Abbas to Form Efficient Gov't
Visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to abide by the Mecca agreements and form an efficient Palestinian government during their meeting in Amman.
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Japan Whaling Meet Hit by Boycott
Japan yesterday held talks with dozens of countries to plot the future of the global whaling body, but most Western states boycotted the meeting as a charade aimed at resuming commercial hunting.
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 Lebanon Bus Blasts Kill 3
Bombs exploded aboard two buses in a Christian area of Lebanon Tuesday, killing three people and wounding 20 on the eve of the second anniversary of the murder of ex-Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.
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 Six-Party Talks End with Joint Document
The six-party talks on Tuesday ended with a joint statement on the first step toward the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. Under the document, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will shut down and seal the Yongbyon nuclear facility, including the reprocessing facility and invite back IAEA personnel to conduct all necessary monitoring and verifications.
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Guinea's President Declares State of Emergency
Guinean President Lansana Conte on Monday declared a state of emergency in the West African country in an effort to end the violent protests against his rule, according to reports from the capital Conakry.
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Former VP Sentenced to Death
The Iraqi High Court ruled Monday that Saddam Hussein's former vice-president should follow him to the gallows, despite appeals from UN officials and international human rights groups for his life to be spared.
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 71 Dead In Triple Iraq Bombings
Three bomb attacks at markets in central Baghdad claimed at least 71 lives Monday as Iraqis marked the first anniversary of a Shi'ite shrine bombing that plunged Iraq to the brink of civil war.
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3 Major Powers to Coordinate International Strategy
China, India and Russia are set to hold their first joint foreign ministerial meeting in New Delhi tomorrow, looking to coordinate respective strategies in international relations as well as determine avenues for further economic and trade collaboration.
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Probe Sought for Killer Korea Blaze
The Chinese ambassador to Seoul, Ning Fukui, yesterday called for South Korea to open an investigation into the cause of a fire that claimed the lives of eight Chinese and injured 17 others, embassy officials said.
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State Councilor: New Opportunities for China-Japan Ties
"It is of fundamental interest to both China and Japan to build on the forward momentum of improved bilateral ties," Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said in a meeting with visiting former Japanese Director-General of Defense Nukaga Fukushiro in Beijing on Monday.
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Nepal Aims to Join Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Nepal is working towards acquiring membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) , from which the country could benefit by getting oil and energy support, local newspaper The Kathmandu Post reported on Monday.
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Nine Killed in Rio Shootout
Nine people were killed in a shootout between militias and drug lords on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro, local police said.
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Olmert Guarded on Palestinian Unity Pact
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reserved judgment Sunday on a Palestinian unity deal and a senior Israeli official said a US-brokered summit with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would be held as planned.
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 Smoke But No Fire at Iranian Revolution Celebrations
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad marked the 28th anniversary of Iran's revolution Sunday by pledging to pursue the country's nuclear program but stayed clear of declaring any new atomic work that would have raised Western hackles.
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FM: Hu's 8-Nation African Tour Successful
President Hu Jintao's eight-nation African tour was successful in promoting friendly and cooperative ties between China and Africa, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said on Saturday.
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Nuclear Talks Divided by Energy Aid
The six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue go into their fifth day today, with the sides still split over energy aid to North Korea in return for initial steps toward abandoning its nuclear program.
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 Obama Declares Running for White House
US Democratic Senator Barack Obama on Saturday officially announced his candidacy for president in the 2008 elections, which could make him the first black president of the country.
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 G-7 Urges Resumption of Doha Trade Talks
The finance ministers and central bank governors from the G-7 countries called for a resumption of the stalled Doha Round of global trade talks and expressed their concern at risks posed by hedge funds to the global financial market.
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 Sha Zukang Named UN Under-secretaries-general
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed on Friday diplomats from China, the United States, Japan and Egypt as new under-secretaries-general. Sha Zukang, permanent representative of China to the UN office at Geneva, was named as under-secretary-general for the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
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Chinese, Seychelles Presidents Pledge to Promote Pragmatic Cooperation
China and Seychelles in Victoria Saturday agreed to promote pragmatic cooperation in tourism, fishery, human resources and other areas. Visiting President Hu Jintao and his Seychellois counterpart James Michel held official talks and agreed to advance the already good ties to a new stage.
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 Pentagon Faults Prewar Iraq Intelligence
Intelligence provided by US former undersecretary of defense Douglas J. Feith to buttress the White House case for invading Iraq included "reporting of dubious quality or reliability" that supported the political views of senior administration officials rather than the conclusions of the intelligence community, according to a report by the Pentagon's inspector general.
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 President Hu in Seychelles on Last Leg of Africa Tour
President Hu Jintao on Friday began a state visit to Seychelles on the last leg of his eight-nation African tour, and is to hold talks with the Seychellois president on expanding mutually-beneficial cooperation.
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Six-Party Talks Moving to a Possible Agreement
The envoys of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue on Friday considered a Chinese draft document to embark on the first steps towards denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.
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Chirac: Ready to 'Serve France in Different Way'
French President Jacques Chirac on Thursday for the first time strongly hinted in a televised interview that he shall not be seeking a third term, and that he is ready "to serve France in a different way" after 12 years at Presidential Palace Elysee.
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White House: US Not Invading Iran
The White House reiterated on Thursday that the United States has no plan to invade Iran which, Washington says, is defiant to the UN resolutions to develop nuclear weapons.
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Khamenei Warns US Against Attacks
If the United States were to attack Iran, the country would respond by striking US interests all over the world, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Thursday.
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 Agreement on Unity Gov't Signed in Mecca
Leaders of Palestinian rival Fatah and Hamas movements signed an agreement in Mecca on Thursday night on forming a national unity government aimed at ending infighting and lifting international siege.
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 Joint Communiqué on China-Mozambique Ties
China and Mozambique issued a joint communiqué yesterday in Maputo addressing both bilateral relations and global affairs of common concern during President Hu Jintao's two-day state visit to the African country.
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Six Nations Resume Nuclear Talks amid Hopes for Progress
The six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue resumed on Thursday afternoon in Beijing. Chinese chief negotiator Wu Dawei made an opening speech at the opening ceremony at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in downtown Beijing, a venue for the talks since 2003.
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Protestors Object Eviction Decision in N Iraq
Tens of protestors of Arab and Turkmen gathered in Kirkuk, 250 km north of Baghdad, on Wednesday, demanding the Iraqi officials to cancel the decision of taking out Arab population from the city.
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6 Hurt in Latest Letter Bomb to Hit UK
A letter bomb exploded at Britain's vehicle licensing agency Wednesday, injuring three women, in a spate of attacks targeting motoring-related organizations in which seven people have been injured in the last three days.
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 Mecca Breakthrough for Hamas, Fatah Rift
The two Palestinian movements, Hamas and Fatah, agreed in Mecca on Wednesday to establish four separate committees to help reaching a final and comprehensive agreement to avoid all-out war, a Fatah official said.
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 Hu Renews Chinese Cooperation with Africa
Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao spoke at South Africa's prestigious University of Pretoria on Wednesday. He used this platform to lay out China's aim to begin new time of strategic partnership with Africa, involving the consolidation of long-standing and the widening of practical cooperation He made the remarks in a speech.
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UN Ratifies Special Tribunal for Hariri's Murder
The United Nations approved an agreement with the Lebanese government to establish an international tribunal to prosecute the assassins of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, the Organization said Tuesday in a statement.
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Republicans Unite to Block Debate on Iraq War
Republicans blocked a debate on the Iraq War in the US Senate on Monday, dealing a setback to critics of President George W. Bush's plan to send in thousands more troops, but Democrats warned they would not give up trying to force Bush to change course.
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Controversial Baghdad Kidnapping of Iranian Official
Gunmen dressed Iraqi army uniforms seized a senior Iranian diplomat in Baghdad, Iraqi and Iranian officials announced Tuesday, with Teheran holding the US military responsible and demanding his immediate release.
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 Saudi King Meets Palestinian Leaders
Saudi Arabian King Abdullah Bin Abdel-Aziz yesterday met respectively with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leaders, Prime Minister Ismail Haniya and Khaled Meshaal ahead of their scheduled talks today.
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 Priorities for China-South Africa Bilateral Cooperation
China and South Africa issued a joint communiqué on Tuesday establishing a framework for the two countries to strengthen bilateral cooperation in terms of politics, economy and trade, international affairs and personnel interaction.
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Cote d'Ivoire Gov't, Rebels Hold 'Direct Dialogues'
The "direct dialogues" between representatives of Cote d'Ivoire's President Laurent Gbagbo and those of the rebel group New Forces were held on Monday in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, with the presence of Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore.
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Iran Installs 328 Centrifuges: Sources
Iran has installed two cascades of 164 centrifuges each in its underground nuclear plant, laying a basis for full-scale enrichment of uranium and upping the stakes in a standoff with the West, European diplomats said Monday.
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Baghdad Operation Appears Ready
Violence raked Baghdad Monday as an Iraqi general took charge of the security operation in the capital and Iraqi police and soldiers manned new roadblocks initial steps indicating the start of the long-anticipated joint operation with American forces to curb sectarian bloodshed.
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 Hu's Proposal for Furthering China-Namibia Relations
During talks with Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba in Windhoek yesterday, President Hu Jintao proposed a range of measures allowing bilateral relations to be strengthened. These measures include boosting cooperation in politics, economy and international affairs whilst increasing personnel exchanges.
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 China, Slovakia Vow to Enhance Cooperation
Slovakia is an important partner for China in central and east Europe, and China will work to promote bilateral friendly cooperation, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing Monday.
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Slovakian PM Starts China Visit
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico arrived in Beijing Monday noon, starting his five-day official China visit aimed at boosting cooperation with China in various fields.
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Romanian FM Decides to Resign
Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu on Sunday told a press conference that he has decided to resign and will hand in his resignation on Monday.
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Floods Kill 20, Leaves 200,000 Homeless in Indonesia
Flooding in Indonesian capital Jakarta and its surrounding areas has killed at least 20 people and forced about 200,000 flee their homes as overflowing rivers sent muddy water into homes and shops, local police spokesman said Sunday.
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 China-Zambia Communiqué Highlights Closer Cooperation
China and Zambia have agreed to boost political and economic cooperation and strengthen dialogue based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, said a joint communiqué from the two countries issued in Lusaka yesterday.
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NZ, Australian PMs Banned from Entering Fiji
New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, and her Australian counterpart, John Howard, have been banned from entering Fiji, according to Radio New Zealand International's Friday report.
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 China, Liberia Forge Closer Ties
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf agreed on Thursday to collaborate in implementing the consensus both sides have reached on bilateral cooperation.
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15 Bodies Were Found in Western Iraq
The Iraqi police patrols on Wednesday found 15 unidentified bodies in the restive city of Fallujah, some 50 km west of Baghdad, a local police source said.
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Russian Envoy Urges Measures by Georgia to Mend Ties
Russia's ambassador to Georgia called on the Caucasus nation on Wednesday to take measures to improve its relations with Moscow, which nose-dived after Georgia briefly detained four Russian officers on spying charges late last year.
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Colombia's Paramilitary Group Kills 1,124 People
Colombia's right-wing paramilitary group, the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), killed 1,124 people among those it had kidnapped, said a non-governmental organization (NGO), local media reported on Wednesday.
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Africa Still Trying to Raise Somalia Force
An African summit ended Wednesday with a proposed peacekeeping force for Somalia still lacking firm commitments for thousands of troops, despite fears the country could plunge back into anarchy.
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Pentagon Freezes Sales of F-14 Parts
The Pentagon has stopped selling spare parts from its retired fleet of F-14 fighter jets, worrying the parts could eventually go to Iran, CBS News reported Wednesday.
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China Hopes Six-Party Talks to Finish in 3 to 4 Days
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, who is also China's chief negotiator to the six-party talks, said on Wednesday that he hopes the upcoming session of six-party talks will accomplish its mission within three to four days.
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US Needs to Continue Policy of Engagement with China
John Negroponte, who has been nominated by US President George W. Bush to serve as deputy state secretary, told US lawmakers on Tuesday that it was in the interests of the United States to continue the policy of engagement with China.
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Iraq, US Troops Kill 263 Militants in Najaf Battles
Iraqi security forces backed by US helicopters killed 263 militants and detained 392 others in the battles outside the holy Shiite city of Najaf, some 160 km south of Baghdad, a defense ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
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Tentative Calm Returns to Gaza
Following five days of violence and armed confrontations between rival Fatah and Hamas movements' militants in the streets of Gaza, calm reigned once again Tuesday although fears remained that a truce agreement might collapse.
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Ukraine's FM Tarasyuk Resigns
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has accepted Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk's resignation, the presidential press office said in a statement on Tuesday.
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 Cameroon 1st Leg of Hu's Africa Tour
President Hu Jintao arrived in the Cameroonian capital of Yaounde on Tuesday, starting his eight-nation Africa tour. Hu's visit, seen as a voyage of friendship and cooperation, is an important follow-up from the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held last November.
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Nepali Party Leaders Meet Today over Terai Unrest
Nepali top party leaders Monday agreed to meet again on Tuesday to address the demands raised by the Madhesi community and bring about calm in the Terai region, local leading media group's website THT On-line reported.
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 Six-Party Talks to Resume on Feb 8
The six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula will restart in Beijing on February 8, the Foreign Ministry announcement yesterday. The statement came as the US and North Korea began talks in Beijing yesterday afternoon about financial sanctions imposed on Pyongyang by Washington.
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Palestinian Rival Movements Agree on Cease-Fire
Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, who is also an official of Hamas, announced on Monday night that Hamas and Fatah have agreed on a cease-fire in Gaza which will take effect in three hours.
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Bird Flu Suspected at Hungarian Farm Again
Thousands of goslings showing symptoms of bird flu were culled near Derekegyhaz in southeast Hungary at the weekend, the Agriculture Ministry told MTI news agency on Monday.
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 China-NZ FTA Talks to Make Progress
Chinese and New Zealand officials should make solid progress at the week-long 10th round of China - New Zealand FTA (free trade area) negotiations, which began yesterday, New Zealand's ambassador in Beijing said.
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China's Mission to Honor Sino-African Forum Pledges
Following on from the sweeping pledges it made at the Sino-African Forum, 2007 will see China sign debt relief agreements with 33 African countries, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said in Beijing Monday.
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Fatah Accepts Egyptian Initiative to End Fighting with Hamas
A leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) said on Sunday evening that Fatah movement led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has accepted an Egyptian initiative with the aim of ending infighting with the ruling Hamas movement.
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PIF Begins Fact-Finding Mission in Fiji
The Pacific Island Forum (PIF) Eminent Persons' Group (EPG) will meet with Fiji's President and interim Prime Minister Monday as it starts its fact-finding mission on Fiji's recent coup.
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Sri Lankan President Reshuffles Cabinet
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on Sunday carried out the first reshuffle of the cabinet since he assumed office in November 2005 to accommodate dissidents of the main opposition United National Party (UNP).
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Sinn Fein Votes on N Ireland Police
Sinn Fein urged its members Sunday to accept the legitimacy of the police force in Northern Ireland, a landmark step which could help restore power sharing in the British province.
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Gunmen Clash for 3rd Day in Gaza, 22 Killed
A bomb blast damaged the Gaza home of a bodyguard of Fatah kingpin Mohammed Dahlan Sunday, as gunmen from rival Palestinian factions exchanged fire in a third day of infighting that has killed 22 people.
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 1st Arab Minister Named to Israeli Cabinet
The Israeli cabinet yesterday approved with a large majority the appointment of lawmaker Raleb Majadele from the left-wing Labor Party who thus becomes the first Arab minister in Israel's history. The appointment drew mixed reaction among Israeli nationals.
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Davos Forum Ends with Appeal to Help World's Poor
This year's gathering of the world's rich and powerful at the World Economic Forum produced fresh commitments to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, a glimmer of hope on liberalizing world trade, determination to combat global warming and emotional appeals at yesterday's closing session to help the world's neediest escape poverty.
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 250 Militants Killed During Najaf Battle
Iraqi security forces supported by US helicopters killed about 250 militants yesterday during a day-long battle outside the Shiite holy city of Najaf, some 160 km south of Baghdad.
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Kyrgyz President to Present New PM Nominee
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev announced Thursday he would present a new prime minister nominee to the parliament after his previous choice was thrown out, Kyrgyzstan's Kabar news agency reported.
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UN Plan Cuts Kosovo from Serbia, with Strings
A UN plan for Kosovo will remove the majority Albanian province from Serbian sovereignty and set it on the road to independence, but provide Serbs living there with significant autonomy, diplomatic and UN sources say.
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Israeli President Steps Aside, Keeps Immunity
Israel's embattled president gave up his powers temporarily Thursday, but dozens of lawmakers vowed to have him dismissed so he could face a raft of sexual assault charges, including rape.
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 Ecuadorian DM Killed in Air Crash
Ecuadorian Defense Minister Guadalupe Larriva on Wednesday night died in an air crash, due to the mid-air collision of two military helicopters, officials said.
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S Korean FM Starts Visit to China
South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon arrived in Beijing Thursday afternoon, starting his three-day official visit to China as guest of Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.
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Katsav Requests for Temporary Suspension
Israeli President Moshe Katsav Wednesday afternoon asked the Knesset (parliament) to declare the temporary suspension of his presidency, following the rape and sexual harassment charges against him, local media reported.
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 Closer Regional Conflict Cooperation for UN, NATO
The United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will collaborate in restoring peace and security in places like Afghanistan, Kosovo and Darfur, the leaders of the two organizations said Wednesday.
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EU Legislators Slam Member States over CIA Scandal
A European Parliament committee bulled into European Union (EU) member states on Tuesday for "accepting and concealing" illegal abductions and transfer of so-called terrorist suspects by United States secret services, and urged the governments to launch probes into such activities.
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FM Li, Rice Hold Phone Talks
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held talks late on Tuesday with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a previously arranged telephone call, exchanging views on such issues as China-US strategic cooperative relations and the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.
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Parliamentary Elections Revive Serbian Radicals
The nationalist Serbian Radical Party (SRS) led all other parties or coalitions in Sunday's first parliamentary elections, the first since the Balkan country split with Montenegro last year, according to preliminary results by the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK).
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 Six-Party Talks: US Envoy in Beijing
US chief negotiator Christopher Hill arrived in Beijing on Sunday ahead of talks with Chinese officials on resuming the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue at an early date.
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